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At least 127 records · Page 7

Remote sensing applied to land-use studies in Wyoming

Impending development of Wyoming's vast fuel resources requires a quick and efficient method of land use inventory and evaluation. Preliminary evaluations of ERTS-1 imagery have shown that physiographic and land use inventory maps can be compiled by using a combination of visual and automated interpretation techniques. Test studies in the Powder River Basin showed that ERTS image interpretations can provide much of the needed physiographic and land use information. Water impoundments as small as one acre were detected and water bodies larger than five acres could be mapped and their acreage estimated. Flood plains and irrigated lands were successfully mapped, and some individual crops were identified and mapped. Coniferous and deciduous trees were mapped separately using color additive analysis on the ERTS multispectral imagery. Gross soil distinctions were made with the ERTS imagery, and were found to be closely related to the bedrock geology. Several broad unstable areas were identified. These were related to specific geologic and slope conditions and generally extended through large regions. Some new oil fields and all large open-cut coal mines were mapped. The most difficult task accomplished was that of mapping urban areas. Work in the urban areas provides a striking example of snow enhancement and the detail available from a snow enhanced image.

Breckenridge, R. M.↗

Interpretation of remote sensing data in the Bayou Lafourche Delta of south Louisiana

Initial efforts were directed toward a comprehensive ground truth program for the Bayou Lafourche Delta. The impact of transportation systems on the marsh environment, impounded marsh areas, proposed jetty systems at Belle Pass, Louisiana, and erosion and sediment transport in the southwestern canal, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana are studied. The use of color IR imagery for a vegetation study of spoil banks in the Bayou Lafourche Region is also discussed.

Whitehurst, C. A.↗

Remote-sensing applications for Texas

The earth resources remote sensing activity of Texas and its applications are reported. A combination of digital, photographic, and traditional methods is being used to manage the water impoundments inventory, a land use survey, a wildlife habitat survey, and a coastal zone survey.

Wells, J.↗

Monitoring of environmental effects of coal strip mining from satellite imagery

This paper evaluates satellite imagery as a means of monitoring coal strip mines and their environmental effects. The satellite imagery employed is Skylab EREP S-190A and S-190B from SL-2, SL-3 and SL-4 missions; a large variety of camera/film/filter combinations has been reviewed. The investigation includes determining the applicability of satellite imagery for detection of disturbed acreage in areas of coal surface mining as well as the much more detailed monitoring of specific surface-mining operations, including: active mines, inactive mines, highwalls, ramp roads, pits, water impoundments and their associated acidity, graded areas and types of grading, and reclamed areas. Techniques have been developed to enable mining personnel to utilize this imagery in a practical and economic manner, requiring no previous photo-interpretation background and no purchases of expensive viewing or data-analysis equipment. To corroborate the photo-interpretation results, on-site observations were made in the very active mining area near Madisonville, Kentucky.

Brooks, R. L.↗

Multidate mapping of mosquito habitat

LANDSAT data from three overpasses formed the data base for a multidate classification of 15 ground cover categories in the margins of Lewis and Clark Lake, a fresh water impoundment between South Dakota and Nebraska. When scaled to match topographic maps of the area, the ground cover classification maps were used as a general indicator of potential mosquito-breeding habitat by distinguishing productive wetlands areas from nonproductive nonwetlands areas. The 12 channel multidate classification was found to have an accuracy 23% higher than the average of the three single date 4 channel classifications.

Woodzick, T. L.↗

Use of LANDSAT data for natural resources investigation in the lower basin of Danube and Danube Delta

The author has identified the following significant results. Monitoring of excess humidity was possible at the Baragan test site. Qualitative improvements of 20-50% were obtained in regards to soil inventory in the eastern Danube Delta, comparing data with conventional maps. The pedological situation was observed after drainage in impounded enclosures. The appearance of stagnate water was surveyed due to difference in color shades on LANDSAT imagery. Areas with gluey soils, such as lake bottoms rich in CaCO3 and shell grist, were clearly represented. Sediment discharges into the sea at the Danube mouth and plumes over 100 km at sea could be easily distinguished on LANDSAT MSS 4 and 5.

Oprescu, N.↗

DAM package version 7807: Software fixes and enhancements

The Detection and Mapping package is an integrated set of manual procedures, computer programs, and graphic devices designed for efficient production of precisely registered, formatted, and interpreted maps from digital LANDSAT multispectral scanner data. This report documents changes to the DAM package in support of its use by the Corps of Engineers for inventorying impounded surface water. Although these changes are presented in terms of their application to detecting and mapping surface water, they are equally relevant to other land surface materials.

Schlosser, E.↗

Assessing the impact of pipeline construction on coniferous wetlands in central Michigan with aerial photography

The Remote Sensing Project at Michigan State University is using repetitive aerial photography to assess the impact of pipeline construction on coniferous wetlands in central Michigan. Preliminary results indicate that ponding, dieback, windthrow, and vegetation changes are readily detectable on medium-scale aerial photography. It is found that the major effect of the pipeline construction is the alteration of the water level, either by flooding or dessication. The most serious damage generally occurs when pipelines cross seepage and spiring wetland types; specific damage is related to the impoundment of the natural water flow, producing flooding on the upflow side of the pipeline and dessication of these wetlands below the pipeline rights-of-way.

Kittleson, K. M.↗

Remote Sensing Applications to the Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program

Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Land Inventory demonstrated the effective use of remote sensing techniques within the context of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The inventory combined data from field work, a literature search, and photointerpretation to fulfill both State and Federal requirements. A primary project objective was to accurately identify and map all surface features and disturbances from abandoned surface and underground mining. Black-and-white aerial photographs were used to record pits, contour benches, highwalls, spoil material, graded and recontoured areas, impounded water, and serious erosion and slide prone areas. In addition, vegetation cover estimates and surrounding land uses were noted. The inventory data base provides Pennsylvania with a valuable resource management tool that should be systematically updated. The utilization of remotely sensed data from SPOT or LANDSAT-D satellites may prove valuable in the anticipated updating and monitoring of the Pennsylvania AML inventory over the next several years.

Clemens, E.↗

In situ observations of Io torus plasma

The physical properties of the Io plasma formation deduced from in situ observations are described. The torus plasma is characterized by spatially distinct regions with steep gradients in plasma parameters between them. The innermost region has a cool plasma which collapses toward the centrifugal equator and gives rise to a distinctive localized concentration of plasma well inside of Io's orbit. The next region has a warm plasma which includes the L-shell of Io and is the presumed injection region of the plasma. Other regions, known as the plasma ledge and ramp, are described. The changes in plasma characteristics are accounted for by centrifugally driven flux tube interchange diffusion to provide radial mass transport. The ramp is shown to result from impoundment of the plasma by the inner edge of the energetic particle population. It is also shown how the power required to excite the ultraviolet emissions of the torus and the Jovian aurora determines the rate at which new plasma is fed into the torus.

Sullivan, J. D.↗

The 19 March 1982 Eruption and Lahar at Mount Saint Helens: Implications for Martian Outlfow Channels?

A small explosive eruption of Mount St. Helens set into motion an unusually complex series of geomorphic and hydrologic processes that had not previously been described in the literature. This event was unusual in that a laterally-directed eruption dislodged and mobilized a thick snowpack from the surrounding crater floor and walls, resulting in the formation of a temporary lake. Catastrophic release of this self-impounded lake spawned a series of destructive debris avalanches and debris flows that moved rapidly down the volcano's north flank and into the North Toutle River valley. Catastrophic release of volatiles mobilized by volcanic activity has been discussed as a possible mechanism to explain a class of outflow channels on Mars. The eruption of Mount St. Helens provides a unique opportunity to study the deposits and landforms created by such an event; a more detailed field study and examination of Viking photographs of martian outflow channels is underway.

Beach, G. L.↗

Importance of Gravity for Plant Growth and Behavior

Flight experiments on the importance of gravity to plant growth and behavior are reported. The following studies were undertaken: (1) hyperastic responses to incremental changes of an axially imposed centripetal force; (2) Spacelab-1 experiments, methods for preparing soil in flight hardware containers were impound, to ensure desired moisture content and minimal contamination probability; (3) mesocotyl growth patterns were established by Avena lore exposure to red light during early seedling outogency; (4) the development of flight hardware; (5) choice of member of seedlings in each cube; (6) data processing and reduction; (7) clinostat validation; circummutation in space was more vigorous than on Earth based clinostat.

Brown, A. H.↗

Excitation of the earth's polar motion due to mass variations in major hydrological reservoirs

The polar motion excitation caused by variations in major natural lakes, the impoundment in artificial reservoirs, and the depletion of a major groundwater aquifer is calculated. It is found that the annual water mass variation in natural lakes contributes a significant fraction in the total hydrological excitation of the annual wobble and that the hydrological reservoirs have been negligible in the Chandler wobble excitation. It is also shown that the contribution of hydrological reservoirs to the total secular polar drift has been negligible in the century due to fortuitous cancellation among reservoirs.

Chao, B. Fong↗

Flood routing of the Maja outflow across Xanthe Terra

The object is to trace a single flood crest through the Maja outflow system and to evaluate the effects of topography on ponding and multiple channel routing. Maja Valles provides a good model because it has a single source and a well defined channel system. The 1500 km long Maja Valles originates in Juventae Chasma. The outflow system stretches 1100 km northward along the Lunae Planum/Xanthe Terra boundary, then eastward across the Xanthe Terra highlands. It descends to Chryse Planitia where it extends northeastward toward the middle of the basin. It is concluded that flood routing through multiple channels and retardation in local impoundments are responsible for breakup of the initial flood crest and the formation of multiple flood crests. Recombined flow near the mouths of these canyons results in an extended flow regime and multiple flood surges. As a result of ponding along the flood course, depositional sites are localized and renewed erosion downstream (from ponded sites) results in sediment source areas not greatly removed from depositional sites.

Dehon, R. A.↗

Duration and rates of discharge: Maja Valles, Mars

The 1600 km-long Maja Valles outflow system of Mars consists of three major divisions including the upper valley on Lunae Planum, the canyon section across Xanthe Terra, and the lower valley across western Chryse Planitia. Although water released from the source in Juventae Chasma could reach the terminus of the present day valley system in central Chryse Planitia within 44 hours, the original outflow did not traverse the Martian surface in a direct path. It ponded along its course on northern Lunae Planum and near the western edge of Chryse Planitia significantly prolonging the lifetime of surface flow. Calculation of pond volumes and discharge rates through various parts of the channel system indicates that water flowed through this system for nearly a (terrestrial) year. Discharge rates from the various basins along the Maja channels and the maximum flow rates within the various channels are calculated. With this data, it is possible to place reasonable estimates of the minimum length of time required to drain the various impoundments and the duration of flow in various parts of the channel system. The results of these calculations are discussed.

Dehon, R. A.↗

Flood surge through the Lunae Planum Outflow Complex, Mars

It is shown that the Maja outflow on Mars was released as a catastrophic outburst from Juventae Chasma. The flood surge traveled the first two-thirds of its length as a semiconfined sheetflood in a broad trough formed by the eastward-sloping Lunae Planum surface and the Xanthe Terra highlands to the east. At its northernmost extent, the flow ponded on the northern Lunae Planum surface. As the flow impounded on the upper Maja lake, waters rose to spill over the Xanthe Terra revetment onto the lower Chryse Planitia surface. The initial spillover crossed Xanthe Terra as sheetflood flow that muted topography over which it passed. The sheetflood was rapidly broken by the irregular topography to cut a complex series of anastomosing channels. A few main channels on eventually captured most of the drainage and local ponds formed in breached craters and irregular basins. The Maja Valles canyon eventually captured the remaining flow at the expense of all other channels.

De Hon, R. A.↗

Environmental monitoring of Space Shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center - The first ten years

Space Shuttle launches produce local environmental effects through the generation of a launcher exhaust plume that in turn produces acidic depositions and acute vegetation damage in the near-field environment; fish kills have also been noted in the lagoon or impoundment near each of the launch pads. Repeated launches lead to cumulative changes in plant community composition and structure, and temporary decreases in pH due to acidification increases metal availability in soil microcosms and surface waters. Direct effects on terrestrial fauna include the mortality of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles in the near-field area.

Schmalzer, Paul A.↗

Duration and rates of discharge - Maja Valles, Mars

The 1600 km-long Maja Valles outflow system of Mars consists of three major divisions including the upper valley on Lunae Planum, the canyon section across Xanthe Terra, and the lower valley across western Chryse Planitia. Although water released from the source in Juventae Chasma could reach the terminus of the present day valley system in central Chryse Planitia within 44 hours, the original outflow did not traverse the Martian surface in a direct path. It ponded along its course on northern Lunae Planum and near the western edge of Chryse Planitia significantly prolonging the lifetime of surface flow. Calculation of pond volumes and discharge rates through various parts of the channel system indicates that water flowed through this system for nearly a (terrestrial) year. Discharge rates from the various basins along the Maja channels and the maximum flow rates within the various channels are calculated. With this data, it is possible to place reasonable estimates of the minimum length of time required to drain the various impoundments and the duration of flow in various parts of the channel system. The results of these calculations are discussed.

De Hon, R. A.↗