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At least 307 records · Page 17

Remote sensing of Mississippi River characteristics

A data collection program initiated by the Vicksburg District, to develop a workable knowledge of the principles relating to the transport of water and sediment to gain a better understanding of the Mississippi River characteristics is introduced. Aerial photographs and thermal infrared imagery were collected over two test reaches at low and high water stages. Qualitative interpretation of the data relates to the river characteristics such as flow patterns, relative velocities, sediment concentration distribution, water-depth effects, and effects of man made structures. Ground truth information is correlated with the remotely sensed data.

Ruff, J. F.↗

Utilization of LANDSAT data for water quality surveys in the Choptank River

Computer processing of LANDSAT-1 multispectral digital data demonstrated the applicability of remotely sensed data to water quality survey in the Choptank River. Water classes derived by automated analysis correlate to river nuisance levels of chlorophyll a and sediment loading as defined by the Maryland Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Results indicate that an increase in chlorophyll a concentration corresponds, relative to MSS 5, to decreases in 4 and increases in 6 relative to the trends with increasing sediment load. It appears that for the purpose of water quality analysis, under favorable atmospheric conditions, only MSS 4, 5 and 6 are necessary.

Johnson, J. M.↗

Environmental parameters of the Tennessee River in Alabama. 1: Thermal stratification

Thermal stratification data of a transect across Wheeler Reservoir are correlated with the climatological data at the time of sampling. This portion of the Tennessee River is used as a heat sink for the effluent from the three reactor Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant. The transect sampling line is 1.3 miles below this point of effluence. Data are presented by weekly samplings for one year prior to plant operations. Post-operational data are presented with one reactor in operation and with two reactors in partial operation. Data gathering was terminated when the plant ceased operations. The results indicate that the effluent for partial plant operation were inconclusive. As a result, recommendations include continuing the sampling when the plant resumes operation at full capacity. Recommendations also include developing math models with the presented thermal and climatological data to be used for predicting the effluent impact in the river with varying climatological conditions and also to predict the effectiveness of the cooling towers.

Rosing, L. M.↗

Investigation of Pearl River data collection system

The reliability of employing NASA developed remote sensing for in situ near real time monitoring of water quality in the Pearl River is evaluated. The placement, operation and maintenance of a number of NASA developed data collection platforms (DCP's) on the Pearl River are described. The reception, processing, and retransmission of water quality data from an ERTS satellite to the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission (MAWPCC) via computer linkup are assessed.

Source record↗

Water resources planning for rivers draining into Mobile Bay

The application of remote sensing, automatic data processing, modeling and other aerospace related technologies to hydrological engineering and water resource management are discussed for the entire river drainage system which feeds the Mobile Bay estuary. The adaptation and implementation of existing mathematical modeling methods are investigated for the purpose of describing the behavior of Mobile Bay. Of particular importance are the interactions that system variables such as river flow rate, wind direction and speed, and tidal state have on the water movement and quality within the bay system.

April, G. C.↗

Aerial photographic water color variations from the James River

Photographic flights from 305 meters altitude were made throughout the day of May 17, 1977, over seven water data stations in the James River. The flights resulted in wide-angle, broadband, spectral radiance film exposure data between the wavelengths of 500 to 900 nanometers for sun elevation angles ranging from 37 to 64 deg and variable atmospheric haze conditions. It is shown from densitometer data that: (1) the dominant observed color from James River waters is determined by the optical properties of the total suspended solid load, (2) variability in observed color is produced by a changing solar elevation angle; and (3) the rate at which observed color changes is influenced by both solar elevation angle and atmospheric conditions.

Bressette, W. E.↗

Evaporation of ice in planetary atmospheres - Ice-covered rivers on Mars

The existence of ice covered rivers on Mars is considered. It is noted that the evaporation rate of water ice on the surface of a planet with an atmosphere involves an equilibrium between solar heating and radiative and evaporative cooling of the ice layer. It is determined that even with a mean Martian insolation rate above the ice of approximately 10 to the -8th g per sq cm/sec, a flowing channel of liquid water will be covered by ice which evaporates sufficiently slowly that the water below can flow for hundreds of kilometers even with modest discharges. Evaporation rates are calculated for a range of frictional velocities, atmospheric pressures, and insolations and it is suggested that some subset of observed Martian channels may have formed as ice-choked rivers. Finally, the exobiological implications of ice covered channels or lakes on Mars are discussed.

Wallace, D.↗

Curvilinear grids for sinuous river channels

In order to effectively analyze the flow in sinuous river channels, a curvilinear grid system was developed for use in the appropriate hydrodynamic code. The CENTERLINE program was designed to generate a two dimensional grid for this purpose. The Cartesian coordinates of a series of points along the boundaries of the sinuous channel represent the primary input to CENTERLINE. The program calculates the location of the river centerline, the distance downstream along the centerline, and both radius of curvature and channel width as a function of such distance downstream. These parameters form the basis for the generation of the curvilinear grid. Based on input values for longitudinal and lateral grid spacing, the corresponding grid system is generated and a file is created containing the appropriate parameters for use in the associated explicit finite difference hydrodynamic programs. Because of the option for a nonuniform grid, grid spacing can be concentrated in areas containing the largest flow gradients.

Tatom, F. B.↗

The hydrodynamic role of fish squamosal integument as an analog of surfaces directly formed by turbulent flow. Report 1: Similarity between irregularities in squamosal integument and those on surfaces formed by river bed flow

The distribution of squamae on the fish body and that of the deposits in the bed of the river can be described by the same equation. The curves reflecting the relative elongation and stability of the body shape of the fish continue the curves showing the elongation of bank spit and stability of the bed of the river.

Kudryashov, A. F.↗

Appendix E: Research papers. Manual versus digital LANDSAT analysis for modeling river flooding

The comparative value of manual versus digital image analysis for determining flood boundaries is being examined in a study of the use of LANDSAT data for modeling flooding of the Black River, in northern New York. The work is an extension of an earlier study in which Black River flooding was assessed through visually interpreted, multi-date LANDSAT band 7 images. Based on the results to date, it appears that neither color-additive viewing nor digital analysis of LANDSAT data provide improvement in accuracy over visual analysis of band 7 images, for delineating the boundaries of flood-affected areas.

Philipson, W. R.↗

A subsynoptic-scale kinetic energy study of the Red River Valley tornado outbreak (AVE-SESAME 1)

The subsynoptis-scale kinetic energy balance during the Red River Valley tornado outbreak is presented in order to diagnose storm environment interactions. Area-time averaged energetics indicate that horizontal flux convergence provides the major energy source to the region, while cross contour flow provides the greatest sink. Maximum energy variability is found in the upper levels in association with jet stream activity. Area averaged energetics at individual observation times show that the energy balance near times of maximum storm activity differs considerably from that of the remaining periods. The local kinetic energy balance over Oklahoma during the formation of a limited jet streak receives special attention. Cross contour production of energy is the dominant local source for jet development. Intense convection producing the Red River Valley tornadoes may have contributed to this local development by modifying the surrounding environment.

Jedlovec, G. J.↗

The Tempe volcanic province of Mars and comparisons with the Snake River Plains of Idaho

The Tempe volcanic region of Mars, a relatively low plain of probable basaltic flood lava affinity, is shown to be comparable in many respects to features of the Snake River Plains of Idaho, including both scale and type of features observed. Superimposed upon the Tempe plain are a variety of features that appear structurally controlled, along an orientation of N60 deg E; comprising low shields, irregular hills that may be silicic domes, and possible composite cones. The Tempe/Snake River match is held to be the first in which direct comparison can be made between Martian and terrestrial geologic-geomorphic features without encountering problems of scale.

Plescia, J. B.↗

Manual versus digital Landsat analysis for modeling river flooding

The comparative value of manual versus digital image analysis for determining flood boundaries is being examined in a study of the use of Landsat data for modeling flooding of the Black River, in northern New York. The work is an extension of an earlier study in which Black River flooding was assessed through visually interpreted, multi-date Landsat band 7 images. Based on the results to date, it appears that neither color-additive viewing nor digital analysis of Landsat data provide improvement in accuracy over visual analysis of band 7 images, for delineating the boundaries of flood-affected areas.

Philipson, W. R.↗

Manual versus digital Landsat analysis for delineating river flooding

It has been found that flood boundary information derived from Landsat images, acquired at different flood stages, could be used to develop an empirical model for estimating the extent of flooding on the basis of in situ measurements of river discharge. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether improved results might have been obtained through digital image analysis or by including other Landsat spectral bands. The study area encompasses a highly flood-prone reach of the Black River in Lewis County, NY. It was found that visual analysis of aerial photographs and a Landsat band 7 image gave similar results. Visual and digital analysis of Landsat band 7 data gave similar results, and digital analysis of Landsat band 7 data gave results which were at least as good as digital analysis of combinations of spectral bands.

Philipson, W. R.↗

Utilization of Meteorological Satellite Imagery for World-Wide Environmental Monitoring the Lower Mississippi River Flood of 1979 - Case 1

The 1979 Lower Mississippi River flood was selected as a test case of environmental disaster monitoring utilizing NOAA-n imagery. A small scale study of the St. Louis Missouri area comparing ERTS-1 (LANDSAT) and NOAA-2 imagery and flood studies using only LANDSAT imagery for mapping the Rad River of the North, and Nimbus-5 imagery for East Australia show the nonmeteorological applications of NOAA satellites. While the level of NOAA-n imagery detail is not that of a LANDSAT image, for operational environmental monitoring users the NOAA-n imagery may provide acceptable linear resolution and spectral isolation.

Helfert, M. R.↗

Analysis of thematic mapper simulator data acquired during winter season over Pearl River, Mississippi, test site

Digital processed aircraft-acquired thematic mapping simulator (TMS) data collected during the winter season over a forested site in southern Mississippi are presented to investigate the utility of TMS data for use in forest inventories and monitoring. Analyses indicated that TMS data are capable of delineating the mixed forest land cover type to an accuracy of 92.5 % correct. The accuracies associated with river bottom forest and pine forest were 95.5 and 91.5 % correct. The accuracies associated with river bottom forest and pine forest were 95.5 and 91.5 % correct, respectively. The figures reflect the performance for products produced using the best subset of channels for each forest cover type. It was found that the choice of channels (subsets) has a significant effect on the accuracy of classification produced, and that the same channels are not the most desirable for all three forest types studied. Both supervised and unsupervised spectral signature development techniques are evaluated; the unsupervised methods proved unacceptable for the three forest types considered.

Anderson, J. E.↗

The Snake River Plain, Idaho - Representative of a new category of volcanism

Studies of the volcanic geology of the Snake River Plain, Idaho, and comparison with other basaltic regions suggest a new category of volcanic activity, termed basaltic plains volcanism. Typified by the Snake River Plain, this style of volcanism is intermediate between basaltic flood (or plateau) eruptions and Hawaiian volcanism. Characteristics that are common to both Hawaiian and plains volcanism are: multiple lava flow units which erupt primarily from point sources, formation of low shields, and frequent emplacement through lava tubes or channels. Characteristics that are common to both flood basalts and plains volcanism are: high volume flows, vents aligned along rift zones, and planar surfaces. The recognition of plains volcanism in other areas provides a means to interpret the style of eruption and volcanic history.

Greeley, R.↗

Application of remote sensing to land and water resource planning: The Pocomoke River Basin, Maryland

Because of the size of the Pocomoke River Basin, the inaccessibility of certain areas, and study time constraints, several remote sensing techniques were used to collect base information on the river corridor, (a 23.2 km channel) and on a 1.2 km wooded floodplain. This information provided an adequate understanding of the environment and its resources, thus enabling effective management options to be designed. The remote sensing techniques used for assessment included manual analysis of high altitude color-infrared photography, computer-assisted analysis of LANDSAT-2 imagery, and the application of airborne oceanographic Lidar for topographic mapping. Results show that each techniques was valuable in providing the needed base data necessary for resource planning.

Wildesen, S. E.↗