Alpine vegetation classification using high resolution aerial imagery and topoclimatic index values.

Topoclimatic index values represent the primary direct determinants of vegetation distribution. Topoclimatic index values represent 1) the effect of slope-aspect in relation to prevailing wind direction on snow accumulation; and 2) the effect of isolation on evapotranspiration and, consequently, soil moisture status. The vegetation classification reveals that combining topoclimatic and film density data produces an alpine map of high categorical accuracy.-from Authors