Global climate matching: Satellite imagery as a tool for mapping vineyard suitability

Abstract

Climate is the principal driver in determining both vineyard location and the type of wine produced at a global scale. Satellite imagery has a long history of application in climate monitoring, modelling and prediction. The processing of temporal sequences of such imagery reveals valuable seasonal information at a fine spatial scale. However, this rich source of spatial and temporal climate information has yet to be exploited by the wine producing industry. Here, the potential of large-scale satellite imagery is outlined and illustrated by developing an approach to identify potential future vineyard locations. Satellite imagery processed to extract seasonal information is initially tested in its capacity to map accurately existing wine production regions. It is then utilised to locate potential new regions through finding and matching areas of similar climate to already well established regions. Results reveal great potential in global satellite imagery to provide cost-effective, accurate means of new vineyard location. The extension of the approach to regional-scale mapping and the study of global warming effects is also described.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dr Simon Hay and Professor David Rogers for providing and processing the satellite imagery, and to Dr Simon Hay and Ms Briony Boon for commenting on the original manuscript.