The Spatial Maps of Paddy Rice Yield over Northeast Asia Using COMS Geostationary Satellite and Reanalysis Meteorological Data

Abstract

This study estimated rice yield maps for Northeast Asia by using the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological satellite (COMS), Terra satellite, and Regional Data Assimilation and Prediction System (RDAPS) of the numerical model. The rice yield is highly useful in the study for crop information monitoring according to climate change as well as agriculture information, industry, and economy. This study produced rice yield maps for Northeast Asia including Korea, North Korea, Japan, and three northeastern provinces of China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) from 2011 to 2017. The estimated spatial resolution of the rice yield maps in Northeast Asia is 500 m. The spatial observation range is 25 ° N ~ 47 ° N and 115 ° E ~ 145 ° E. In order to estimate rice yield, Remote Sensing-integrated Crop Model was employed in this study. The inputs of the RSCM are vegetation indices from Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) of the COMS, solar radiation from Meteorological Imager of the COMS, Land Surface Water Index from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and the temperature from the RDAPS were considered as input data. In particular, this study applied the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function to the GOCI time-series images to calculate more improved vegetation indices by minimizing the directional error generated in the satellite observation location. These indices were very effective in the simulation of the rice yield.