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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Terrain classification maps of Yellowstone National Park

A cooperative ERTS-1 investigation involving U. S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and Environmental Research Institure of Michigan (ERIM) personnel has as its goal the preparation of terrain classification maps for the entire Yellowstone National Park. Excellent coverage of the park was obtained on 6 August 1972 (frame 1015-17404). Preliminary terrain classification maps have been prepared at ERIM by applying multispectral pattern recognition techniques to ERTS-MSS digital taped data. The color coded terrain maps are presented and discussed. The discussion includes qualitative and quantitative accuracy estimates and discussion of processing techniques.

Thomson, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Delaware Basin Health and Air Quality: Spatiotemporal Analysis of Air Pollutants Collected from Ground and Space Instruments Around the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a precursor for secondary air pollutants, which are associated with decreased visibility, and decreased ecosystem and respiratory health. NO2 is a growing threat to national parks within the Delaware Basin where nearby oil and gas activity contributes to deteriorating park conditions, implying adverse effects on the local tourism economy and public health. To demonstrate spatial and temporal patterns of air pollution in the parks, we examined average monthly, seasonal, and annual tropospheric column concentrations of NO2 in Carlsbad Caverns (CAVE) and Guadalupe Mountain (GUMO) National Parks. We used both the NASA Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and the European Space Agency (ESA) Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) to map NO2 tropospheric column densities. Using ground-based emissions values from the Environmental Protection Agency National Emissions Inventory (NEI) for two nearby natural gas processing plants (Indian Basin Gas Plant, South Carlsbad Plant), we extrapolated monthly trends from these point sources and compared seasonal emissions levels with the measurements recorded by OMI and TROPOMI. The NEI data show an 8% increase in flaring from 2013–2021. OMI measured a 38.3% NO2 increase over the Delaware Basin, 15.29% increase over CAVE, and 4.26% decrease over GUMO from 2011–2018. TROPOMI measured a -1% NO2 change over the Delaware Basin, 3% over CAVE, and 7% over GUMO from 2018–2020. The analysis indicates a positive correlation between emissions from fossil fuel exploration and NO2 concentrations above CAVE and GUMO. This information will inform National Park Service air quality monitoring and policy efforts to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act.

Sean Cusick↗
NASA NTRS2024

Iona Ecological Conservation: Utilizing Earth Observations to Understand Landscape Patterns and Assist in Wildlife Management in Iona National Park, Angola

Following the end of the Angolan civil war in 2002, human and livestock populations have increased exponentially within Iona National Park. An ongoing drought since 2017 has brought these people and livestock into increasing competition with local wildlife for resources – highlighting a conservation challenge that will become more entrenched as the effects of anthropogenic climate change increase. In 2019, African Parks began co-managing Iona National Park in Angola with the Angolan government, hoping to enact scientifically grounded management strategies to meet this challenge. To accomplish this, African Parks needed contemporary and historic information on the spatial distribution of landcover types within Iona and adjacent areas. We constructed and applied a Random Forest classifier in Google Earth Engine to multispectral imagery gathered from Landsat 5, 7, 8 and Sentinel-1 and 2 to meet this need. Using the classifier, we generated a time-series of land cover maps between 1990–2023, from which landscape metrics and change detection analysis were calculated to show how certain habitats and formations had changed over time. The resulting maps have producer and user’s accuracies above 87% and show four broad landcover regions within the study area. Notably, we observed a decrease in the park’s diversity as per the Shannon Diversity Index – an index that considers the richness of classes, as well the evenness of their distribution. A lack of arid specific land cover indices and ground-truthed training data from earlier years limited the accuracy and resolution of our landcover maps. However, this project still demonstrates that Earth observations can be used to form the basis of conservation policy in arid environments, where ground-truth data may be difficult to obtain or non-existent.

remote sensing↗
NASA NTRS2015

Changes in Meadow Vegetation Cover in Kings Canyon National Park (California) Based on Three Decades of Landsat Image Analysis

Landsat (30 meter resolution) image analysis over the past 25 years in Kings Canyon National Park was used to track changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Results showed that NDVI values from the wet year of 2010 were significantly lower than NDVI values from the comparatively dry year of 2013 in the majority of meadow areas in the National Park.

Canyons↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Utilizing Earth Observations to Understand Landscape Patterns and Assist in Wildlife Management in Iona National Park, Angola

Following the end of the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002), human habitation in Iona National Park has grown exponentially, as has the livestock population. An ongoing drought beginning in 2017 has brought people, livestock, and wildlife into increasing competition for resources within the park. This study used Earth observation data, primarily Landsat and Sentinel imagery, to examine landscape trends to improve wildlife preservation approaches in Iona National Park, Angola. In collaboration with the NGO African Parks, we developed a robust land use and land cover (LULC) classification model using remote sensing data to augment sparse ground-based data in this arid land region. We used Google Earth Engine and a random forest classifier to map vegetation types, water bodies, and potential wildlife habitats. This analysis resulted in a high spatial resolution LULC time-series between 1984-2023, highlighting critical periods of socioecological change over the past 40 years. These results increased the partner’s ability to make scientifically grounded decisions about resource allocation and conservation priorities. This analysis supports the feasibility of applying remote sensing techniques coupled with machine learning models in dry regions, where standard survey methods are frequently limited by accessibility and resource availability. However, we identified limitations in ground-truth data and the difficulty of recognizing certain vegetation types in arid areas. Despite these limitations, the study demonstrated Earth observations' ability to transform wildlife management techniques in distant and data-scarce locations, providing a reproducible foundation for similar ecosystems around the world.

Emmanuel Aklie↗
NASA NTRS2001

Low Altitude AVIRIS Data for Mapping Land Cover in Yellowstone National Park: Use of Isodata Clustering Techniques

Yellowstone National Park (YNP) contains a diversity of land cover. YNP managers need site-specific land cover maps, which may be produced more effectively using high-resolution hyperspectral imagery. ISODATA clustering techniques have aided operational multispectral image classification and may benefit certain hyperspectral data applications if optimally applied. In response, a study was performed for an area in northeast YNP using 11 select bands of low-altitude AVIRIS data calibrated to ground reflectance. These data were subjected to ISODATA clustering and Maximum Likelihood Classification techniques to produce a moderately detailed land cover map. The latter has good apparent overall agreement with field surveys and aerial photo interpretation.

Spruce, Joe↗
NASA NTRS2021

Using Remote Sensing to Monitor the Spring Phenology of Acadia National Park Across Elevational Gradients

Greenup dates and their responses to elevation and temperature variations across the mountains of Acadia National Park are monitored using remote sensing data, including Landsat 8 surface reflectances (at a 30-m spatial resolution) and VIIRS reflectances adjusted to a nadir view (gridded at a 500-m spatial resolution), during the 2013–2016 growing seasons. The 30-m resolution provides a better scale for studying the phenology variation across elevational gradients than the 500-m resolution, as greenup dates monitored at 30-m scale have better agreement with leaf-out dates recorded in the field alongside the north–south-oriented hiking trails on three of the park’s tallest mountains (466 m, 418 m, and 380 m), and can provide landcover-specific analysis. The spring phenology responses to temperature and elevation vary among different spatial scales. Greenup dates of Acadia National Park monitored at 30-m scale show a weak advancing trend with higher spring temperature, while greenup dates monitored at 500 m show a weak delaying trend. The species mix within landcover at 30-m scale could weaken the advancing trend detected at field observation level. The landcover mix and elevation variation within 500-m scale could alter the spring phenology response to spring temperature variation. Greenup dates monitored at both 30-m and 500-m scales vary among different elevational zones, aspects, landcovers, and years. However, the relationship between greenup dates and elevation is rather weak.

Yan Liu↗
NASA NTRS1976

Thermographic mosaic of Yellowstone National Park

An uncontrolled aerial thermographic mosaic of Yellowstone National Park was assembled from the videotape record of 13 individual thermographs obtained with linescan radiometers. Post mission processing of the videotape record rectified the nadir line to a topographic map base, corrected for v/h variations in adjacent flight lanes, corrected for yaw and pitch distortions, and distortions produced by nonlinearity of the side-wise scan. One of the purposes of the thermographic study was to delineate the areas of thermal emission (hot springs, geysers, etc.) throughout the Park, a study which could have great value in reconnaissance surveys of geothermal areas in remote regions or regions of high relief.

Williams, R. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

US Forest Service and National Park Service Wilderness Aircraft Overflight Study: Sociological background and study plans

The background and sociological aspects of the combined U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service Wilderness Aircraft Overflight Study (WACOS) are presented. The WACOS broaches a new area of research by combining aspects of outdoor recreation sociology and aircraft noise response studies. The tasks faced create new challenges and require innovative solutions. Background information on the WACOS is presented with special emphasis on sociological considerations. At the time of this writing, no data have yet been collected, so this paper will present background information, related issues, and plans for data collection. Some recent studies indicate that managers of Forest Service wildernesses and National Park Service areas consider aircraft overflights to be a problem to their users in some areas. Additional relevant background research from outdoor recreation sociology is discussed, followed by presentation of the authors' opinions of the most salient sociological issues faced by this study. The goals and desired end products are identified next, followed by a review of the methods anticipated to be used to obtain these results. Finally, a discussion and conclusion section is provided.

Harrison, Robin T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Use of topographic and climatological models in a geographical data base to improve Landsat MSS classification for Olympic National Park

An unsupervised computer classification of vegetation/landcover of Olympic National Park and surrounding environs was initially carried out using four bands of Landsat MSS data. The primary objective of the project was to derive a level of landcover classifications useful for park management applications while maintaining an acceptably high level of classification accuracy. Initially, nine generalized vegetation/landcover classes were derived. Overall classification accuracy was 91.7 percent. In an attempt to refine the level of classification, a geographic information system (GIS) approach was employed. Topographic data and watershed boundaries (inferred precipitation/temperature) data were registered with the Landsat MSS data. The resultant boolean operations yielded 21 vegetation/landcover classes while maintaining the same level of classification accuracy. The final classification provided much better identification and location of the major forest types within the park at the same high level of accuracy, and these met the project objective. This classification could now become inputs into a GIS system to help provide answers to park management coupled with other ancillary data programs such as fire management.

Cibula, William G.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Evaluating the Synergistic Use of Low-Altitude AVIRIS and AIRSAR Data for Land Cover Mapping in Northeast Yellowstone National Park

Current land cover maps are needed by Yellowstone National Park (YNP) managers to assist them in protecting and preserving native flora and fauna. Synergistic use of hyperspectral and radar imagery offers great promise for mapping habitat in terms of cover type composition and structure. In response, a study was conducted to assess the utility of combining low-altitude AVIRIS and AIRSAR data for mapping land cover in a portion of northeast YNP. Land cover maps were produced from individual AVIRIS and AIRSAR data sets, as well as from a hybrid data stack of selected AVIRIS and AIRSAR data bands. The three resulting classifications were compared to field survey data and aerial photography to assess apparent benefits of hyperspectral/SAR data fusion for land cover mapping. Preliminary results will be presented.

Berglund, Judith↗
NASA NTRS1981

Landsat hydrobiological classification for an inland fresh water marsh within Everglades National Park

The considered investigation is concerned with the application of Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data to the classification of vegetative communities and the establishment of flow vectors for the Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park, Florida. A systematic array of 'ground truth' was established utilizing comprehensive hydrologic field data and conventional high altitude infrared aerial photography. A control network was defined that represented all hydrobiological zones (those wetland vegetative communities that directly influence the rate of overland sheet flow) in the Shark River Slough. These data were then directly applied to the Landsat imagery utilizing an interactive multispectral processor which generated hydrographic maps of the slough and defined the surface radiance characteristics of each hydrobiological system. It was found that the application of Landsat imagery for hydrologic applications in a wetlands area, such as the Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park, is definitely a viable tool for resource management.

Rose, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Everglades Ecological Forecasting II: Utilizing NASA Earth Observations to Enhance the Capabilities of Everglades National Park to Monitor & Predict Mangrove Extent to Aid Current Restoration Efforts

Mangroves act as a transition zone between fresh and salt water habitats by filtering and indicating salinity levels along the coast of the Florida Everglades. However, dredging and canals built in the early 1900s depleted the Everglades of much of its freshwater resources. In an attempt to assist in maintaining the health of threatened habitats, efforts have been made within Everglades National Park to rebalance the ecosystem and adhere to sustainably managing mangrove forests. The Everglades Ecological Forecasting II team utilized Google Earth Engine API and satellite imagery from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 to continuously create land-change maps over a 25 year period, and to allow park officials to continue producing maps in the future. In order to make the process replicable for project partners at Everglades National Park, the team was able to conduct a supervised classification approach to display mangrove regions in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. As freshwater was depleted, mangroves encroached further inland and freshwater marshes declined. The current extent map, along with transition maps helped create forecasting models that show mangrove encroachment further inland in the year 2030 as well. This project highlights the changes to the Everglade habitats in relation to a changing climate and hydrological changes throughout the park.

Kirk, Donnie↗
NASA NTRS2016

Airborne Observations of Ozone and Other Trace Gases Upwind of National Parks in California and Nevada

The Alpha Jet Atmospheric eXperiment (AJAX) is a research project based at Moffett Field, CA, which collects airborne measurements of ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and formaldehyde, as well as 3-D winds, temperature, pressure, and location. Since its first science flight in 2011, AJAX has developed a wide a variety of mission types, combining vertical profiles (from approximately 8 km to near surface), boundary layer legs, and plume sampling as needed. With an ongoing five-year data set, the team has sampled over 160 vertical profiles, a dozen wildfires, and numerous stratospheric ozone intrusions. Our largest data collection includes 55 vertical profiles at Railroad Valley, NV, approximately 100 miles southwest of Great Basin National Park, and many of those flights include comparisons to surface monitors in the Nevada Rural Ozone Initiative network. We have also collected a smaller set of measurements northwest of Joshua Tree National Park, and are looking to develop partnerships that can put this data to use to assess or improve air quality in nearby Parks. AJAX also studies the plumes emitted by wildfires in California, as most emissions inventories are based on prescribed fires. We have sampled a dozen fires, and results will be presented from several, including the Rim (2013), Soberanes and Cedar (2016) Fires.

Ozone↗
NASA NTRS2007

Solutions Network Formulation Report. The Potential Contributions of the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission to Estuary Management in Acadia National Park

This candidate solution suggests the use of GPM precipitation observations to enhance the Acadia National Park NLERDSS. Simulated GPM data should provide measurements that would enable analysis of how precipitation affects runoff and nutrient load in the park?s wetlands. This solution benefits society by aiding park and resource managers in making predictions based on hypothetical changes and in identifying effective mitigation scenarios. This solution supports the Coastal Management, Water Management, and Ecological Forecasting National Applications.

Anderson, Daniel↗