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At least 55 records · Page 3

Coastal and estuarine applications of multispectral photography

An evaluation of multispectral photographic techniques for optical penetration of water in the northeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico coastal waters is presented. The spectral band (493 to 543 nanom), when exposed to place the water mass at about unit density on the photographic emulsion, was found to provide the best water penetration, independent of altitude or time of day, as long as solar glitter from the surface of the water is avoided. An isoluminous color technique was perfected, which eliminates the dimension of brightness from a multispectral color presentation.

Yost, E.↗

A New Approach to Monitoring Coastal Marshes for Persistent Flooding

Many areas in coastal Louisiana are below sea level and protected from flooding by a system of natural and man-made levees. Flooding is common when the levees are overtopped by storm surge or rising rivers. Many levees in this region are further stressed by erosion and subsidence. The floodwaters can become constricted by levees and trapped, causing prolonged inundation. Vegetative communities in coastal regions, from fresh swamp forest to saline marsh, can be negatively affected by inundation and changes in salinity. As saltwater persists, it can have a toxic effect upon marsh vegetation causing die off and conversion to open water types, destroying valuable species habitats. The length of time the water persists and the average annual salinity are important variables in modeling habitat switching (cover type change). Marsh type habitat switching affects fish, shellfish, and wildlife inhabitants, and can affect the regional ecosystem and economy. There are numerous restoration and revitalization projects underway in the coastal region, and their effects on the entire ecosystem need to be understood. For these reasons, monitoring persistent saltwater intrusion and inundation is important. For this study, persistent flooding in Louisiana coastal marshes was mapped using MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) time series of a Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). The time series data were derived for 2000 through 2009, including flooding due to Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008. Using the NDWI, duration and extent of flooding can be inferred. The Time Series Product Tool (TSPT), developed at NASA SSC, is a suite of software developed in MATLAB(R) that enables improved-quality time series images to be computed using advanced temporal processing techniques. This software has been used to compute time series for monitoring temporal changes in environmental phenomena, (e.g. NDVI times series from MODIS), and was modified and used to compute the NDWI indices and also the Normalized Difference Soil Index (NDSI). Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) water levels from various hydrologic monitoring stations and aerial photography were used to optimize thresholds for MODIS-derived time series of NDWI and to validate resulting flood maps. In most of the profiles produced for post-hurricane assessment, the increase in the NDWI index (from storm surge) is accompanied by a decrease in the vegetation index (NDVI) and then a period of declining water. The NDSI index represents non-green or dead vegetation and increases after the hurricane s destruction of the marsh vegetation. Behavior of these indices over time is indicative of which areas remain flooded, which areas recover to their former levels of vegetative vigor, and which areas are stressed or in transition. Tracking these indices over time shows the recovery rate of vegetation and the relative behavior to inundation persistence. The results from this study demonstrated that identification of persistent marsh flooding, utilizing the tools developed in this study, provided an approximate 70-80 percent accuracy rate when compared to the actual days flooded at the CRMS stations.

Kalcic, M. T.↗

Evaluation of spatial, radiometric and spectral thematic mapper performance for coastal studies

Radiative transfer theory was used to model upwelling radiance for an orbiting sensor viewing an estuarine environment. Radiance was calculated in Tm bands 3,4, and 5 and MSS bands 4 and 5 for an optically shallow estuary of either clear or turbid water, and of three bottom types: vegetation, sand, or mud. A portion of a TM image of Chesapeake Bay was enhanced to obtain a quick look at what submerged features could be detected. The enhancements were compared with low altitude color aerial photography. The TM bands 1,2, and 3 were found to contain water and submerged features information. Band 1 contained a significant amount of noise and low contrast. Band 2 appeared to contain the most amount of bottom information. Band 3, while having the least amount of noise and best constrast, contained a lesser amount of bottom information because of increase water absorption. Several water signatures were identified which correlated with submerged vegetation shown in the aerial photography.

Klemas, V.↗

Public health applications of remote sensing

Remote infrared and multispectral photography were used to identify coastal salt water-fresh water interfaces conducive to encephalitis vector mosquito breeding in Florida, and to determine the environmental conditions that caused an explosive outbreak of anthrax in Louisiana. Multiband photographic inventories were obtained by simultaneously processing three photographic negatives of the same view which record different wavelength portions of the same light. The process enhances differentiation of vegetative communities and sharply delineates edge effects by assigning false colors to differentiate subtle density differences.

Fuller, C. E.↗

Apollo-Skylab contamination photography (S226)

Photographs taken on Apollo 16 before, during, and after a water dump were analyzed for residual background brightness, particle dynamics, and time decay of background brightness. No conclusive results were obtained because of the illumination of the windows or window openings by extraneous light sources.

Craven, P. D.↗

Utilization of ERTS-1 data in the Houston area

The author has identified the following significant results. Using clustering techniques, several large lakes in Texas have been accurately delineated in computer printout graymaps. It was also found that small bodies of water (one to two acres in size) could be detected by searching for small reflectance values in the infrared data. A graymap printout of a lake described a shore outline that was not consistent with available maps. Field examination revealed that the actual level of the lake was below that for which the map was drawn. The current lake configuration agrees in shape and relative size with the ERTS-1 data printout. Water turbidity causes reflectance changes which are detectable in ERTS-1 band 7 data. A comparison has been made of the Monterey Bay, California area using 1971 aerial color infrared photography and a 1972 ERTS-1 band 7 infrared image. This comparison revealed that some event has occurred to impound a significant amount of water in the area since the infrared photography was taken. Data values in the ERTS-1 infrared image exhibit detectable changes in brightness at inflow points, where high turbidity would be present. Researchers had not expected to detect water turbidity patterns in band 7 (800 to 1100 nanometers).

Erb, R. B.↗

A study of Minnesota forests and lakes using data from earth resources technology satellites

This project is to foster and develop new applications of remote sensing under an interdisciplinary effort. Seven reports make up the specific projects presently being conducted throughout the State of Minnesota in cooperation with several agencies and municipalities. These are included under the general headings of: (1) applications of aerial photography and ERTS-1 data to agricultural, forest, and water resources management; (2) classification and dynamics of water and wetland resources of Minnesota; (3) studies of Lake Superior Bay; and (4) feasibility of detecting major air pollutants by earth-oriented satellite-borne sensors.

Source record↗

The use of near-infrared photography for biodegradable pollution monitoring of tidal rivers

On October 2, 1972, a pattern of chlorophyll a containing phytoplankton (algae) was detected from 3-km altitude in a series of near-infrared photographs of the Potomac River 'Salt Wedge Area.' Densitometer traces over the film images, related to in situ measurements of chlorophyll a concentrations that varied from 4 to more than 3000 micrograms/liter, revealed a phytoplankton 'bloom' threshold in the near infrared between the concentration of 34 and 51 micrograms/liter. The photography also revealed bottom features through two meters of water and made it possible to integrate chlorophyll a concentrations over a 16 sq km area to demonstrate this remote sensing technique for biodegradable pollution monitoring.

Bressette, W. E.↗

Mesoscale damage patterns of Hurricane Frederic in relation to enhanced SMS imagery

An F-scale analysis of Hurricane Frederic (September 12 and 13, 1979) was performed in order to determine the structural damage patterns attributed to the storm. Enhanced SMS imagery revealed patterns of mesoscale features as well as features related to the shielding effects of trees and the grouping effect of structures. The scatter in estimating the damage scale was + or - 1 F-scale. It is shown that discrepancies in recorded wind speed and the estimated wind-speed from the F-scale are the result of different damage mechanisms of hurricane and tornado winds. Radar echoes revealed that the structure of Hurricane Frederic changed from an axisymmetric center to an instantaneous center of rotation. Finally, it is suggested that major hurricane wind and water damage be investigated in greater detail by aerial photography, damage vector mapping, and ground surveys.

Fujita, T. T.↗

Accurate Inventories Of Irrigated Land

System for taking land-use inventories overcomes two problems in estimating extent of irrigated land: only small portion of large state surveyed in given year, and aerial photographs made on 1 day out of year do not provide adequate picture of areas growing more than one crop per year. Developed for state of California as guide to controlling, protecting, conserving, and distributing water within state. Adapted to any large area in which large amounts of irrigation water needed for agriculture. Combination of satellite images, aerial photography, and ground surveys yields data for computer analysis. Analyst also consults agricultural statistics, current farm reports, weather reports, and maps. These information sources aid in interpreting patterns, colors, textures, and shapes on Landsat-images.

Wall, S.↗

Remote sensing for monitoring a water transportation project - The California Aqueduct

Land use changes were investigated on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, California, an arid region presently importing water via the California Aqueduct, utilizing airphoto mosaics (1957), high-altitude photography (1971), and Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) data (1972). Attention was focused on land use characteristics for the three dates, changes which had occurred, and the sequence of land use category change. Research indicated that water importation was contributing to an overall pattern of regional change trending from an oil-producing and grazing area into a cropping region. Furthermore, the general pattern of specific category change was trending in the direction of higher economic intensity land use succession.

Estes, J. E.↗

The use of LANDSAT-1 imagery in mapping and managing soil and range resources in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska

The author has identified the following significant results. Evaluation of ERTS-1 imagery for the Sand Hills region of Nebraska has shown that the data can be used to effectively measure several parameters of inventory needs. (1) Vegetative biomass can be estimated with a high degree of confidence using computer compatable tape data. (2) Soils can be mapped to the subgroup level with high altitude aircraft color infrared photography and to the association level with multitemporal ERTS-1 imagery. (3) Water quality in Sand Hills lakes can be estimated utilizing computer compatable tape data. (4) Center pivot irrigation can be inventoried from satellite data and can be monitored regarding site selection and relative success of establishment from high altitude aircraft color infrared photography. (5) ERTS-1 data is of exceptional value in wide-area inventory of natural resource data in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska.

Seevers, P. M.↗

Study of application of ERTS-A imagery to fracture related mine safety hazards in the coal mining industry

The author has identified the following significant results. The 70mm black and white infrared photography acquired in March 1973 at an approximate scale of 1:115,000 permits the identification of areas of mine subsidence not readily evident on other films. This is largely due to the high contrast rendition of water and land by this film and the excessive surface moisture conditions prevalent in the area at the time of photography. Subsided areas consist of shallow depressions which have impounded water. Patterns with a regularity indicative of the room and pillar configuration used in subsurface coal mining are evident.

Wier, C. E.↗

A comparison of LANDSAT TM to MSS imagery for detecting submerged aquatic vegetation in lower Chesapeake Bay

LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) and Multispectral Scanner (MSS) imagery generated simultaneously over Guinea Marsh, Virginia, are assessed in the ability to detect submerged aquatic, bottom-adhering plant canopies (SAV). An unsupervised clustering algorithm is applied to both image types and the resulting classifications compared to SAV distributions derived from color aerial photography. Class confidence and accuracy are first computed for all water areas and then only shallow areas where water depth is less than 6 feet. In both the TM and MSS imagery, masking water areas deeper than 6 ft. resulted in greater classification accuracy at confidence levels greater than 50%. Both systems perform poorly in detecting SAV with crown cover densities less than 70%. On the basis of the spectral resolution, radiometric sensitivity, and location of visible bands, TM imagery does not offer a significant advantage over MSS data for detecting SAV in Lower Chesapeake Bay. However, because the TM imagery represents a higher spatial resolution, smaller SAV canopies may be detected than is possible with MSS data.

Ackleson, S. G.↗

Development of a universal water signature for the LANDSAT-3 Multispectral Scanner, part 1

A generalized four channel hyperplane to discriminate water from nonwater was developed using LANDSAT-3 multispectral scaner (MSS) scenes and matching same/next day color infrared aerial photography. The MSS scenes varied in sun elevation angle from 40 to 58 deg. The 28 matching air photo frames contained over 1400 water bodies larger than one surface acre. A preliminary water discriminant, was used to screen the data and eliminate from further consideration all pixels distant from water in MSS spectral space. A linear discriminant was iteratively fitted to the labelled pixels. This discriminant correctly classified 98.7% of the water pixels and 98.6% of the nonwater pixels. The discriminant detected 91.3% of the 414 water bodies over 10 acres in surface area, and misclassified as water 36 groups of contiguous nonwater pixels.

Schlosser, E. H.↗

An assessment of the impact of water impoundment and diversion structures on vegetation in Southern Arizona

High-altitude color infrared photography was used to survey existing conditions, both upstream and downstream, from nineteen diversion structures in Southern Arizona to determine their effect upon vegetation health, vigor, and cover. A diversion structure is defined as a man/made feature constructed to control storm runoff. The results are used to determine the policy for future structure design.

Conn, J. S.↗