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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 1,621 records · Page 90
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Characterization of LANDSAT-4 TM and MSS Image Quality for Interpretation of Agricultural and Forest Resources

Systematic analysis of both image and numeric data shows that the overall spectral, spatial, and radiometric quality of the TM data are excellent. Spectral variations in fallow fields are due to the vaiability in soil moisture and surface roughness resulting from the various stages of field preparation for small grains production. Spectrally, the addition of the first TM short wave infrared band (Band 5) significantly enhanced ability to discriminate different crop types. Bands 1, 5, and 6 contain saturated pixels due to high albedo effects, low moisture conditions, and high radiant temperatures of granite and dry, bare soil on south facing slopes, respectively. Spatially, the two fold decrease in interpixel distance and four fold decrease in area per pixel between the TM and MSS allow for improved discrimination of small fields, boundary conditions, road and stream networks in rough terrain, and small forest clearings resulting from various forest management practices.

Degloria, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Production of nitrous oxide and consumption of methane by forest soils

Soils in an Amazonian rainforest are observed to release N2O at a rate larger than the global mean by about a factor of 20. Emissions from a New England hardwood forest are approximately 30 times smaller then Brazilian values. Atmospheric methane is consumed by soils in both systems. Tropical forests would provide a major source of atmospheric N2O if the Brazilian results are representative.

Keller, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Remote sensing applied to forest resources

The development of methodologies to classify reforested areas using remotely sensed data is discussed. A preliminary study was carried out in northeast of the Sao Paulo State in 1978. The reforested areas of Pinus spp and Eucalyptus spp were based on the spectral, spatial and temporal characteristics fo LANDSAT imagery. Afterwards, a more detailed study was carried out in the Mato Grosso do Sul State. The reforested areas were mapped in functions of the age (from: 0 to 1 year, 1 to 2 years, 2 to 3 years, 3 to 4 years, 4 to 5 years and 5 to 6 years) and of the heterogeneity stand (from: 0 to 20%, 20 to 40%, 40 to 60%, 60 to 80% and 80 to 100%). The relative differences between the artificial forest areas, estimated from LANDSAT data and ground information, varied from -8.72 to +9.49%. The estimation of forest volume through a multistage sampling technique, with probability proportional to size, is also discussed.

Hernandezfilho, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Geologic mapping of Indonesian rain forest with analysis of multiple SIR-B incidence angles

The discrimination and mapping capabilities are to be evaluated for shuttle imaging radar-B (SIR-B) images of geologic features in Indonesia that are covered by equatorial rain forest canopy. The SIR-B backscatter from the rain forest at L-band is to be compared to backscatter acquired by the SEASAT scatterometer system at Ku-band ever corresponding areas. The approach for data acquisition, handling, and analysis and the expected results of the investigation are discussed.

Ford, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Remote sensing of the leaf area index of temperate coniferous forests

To estimate the one-sided leaf area index (LAI) of temperate coniferous forests using data acquired from the Daedalus Airborne Thematic Mapper, an empirical model is developed. The study area follows an environmental gradient across west-central Oregon, where leaf development varies in response to temperature and moisture. The relationship between the ratio of thematic-mapper simulator channels four and three and the leaf area index for selected closed canopy or fully stocked forest stands along the gradient is analyzed. Results show that a good relationship exists between the LAI and the IR/red ratio for conifers and that a conifer species-independent asymptotic relationship is observed between LAI and near IR/red reflectance, with near radiometric saturation occurring at an LAI of about 7-8.

Spanner, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Geometric-optical modeling of a conifer forest canopy

A geometric-optical model of a conifer forest canopy was constructed to describe the variance of a remotely-sensed image of a forest stand. The model is driven by interpixel variance generated from three sources: (1) the number of crowns in the pixel; (2) the size of the individual crowns; and (3) the overlapping of crowns and shadows. The illumination of a tree and its shadow is described as a cone using parallel-ray geometry. The model can also be inverted to provide estimates of the size, shape and spacing of the trees using remotely-sensed imagery and a minimum of ground measurements. The results of field tests using 10-meter and 80-meter multispectral imagery of two test conifer stands in northeastern California are presented. It is shown that the model produces reasonable estimates for the geometric parameters of the stand and appears to be sufficiently robust for application to other geometric shapes corresponding to different types of vegetation.

Li, X.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Forest Species Identification with High Spectral Resolution Data

Data collected over the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes Test Site and the Saginaw Forest Test Site (Michigan) with the JPL Airborne Imaging Spectrometer and the Collins' Airborne Spectroradiometer are being used for forest species identification. The linear discriminant function has provided higher identification accuracies than have principal components analyses. Highest identification accuracies are obtained in the 450 to 520 nm spectral region. Spectral bands near 1,300, 1,685 and 2,220 nm appear to be important, also.

Olson, C. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Conceptual design study: Forest Fire Advanced System Technology (FFAST)

An integrated forest fire detection and mapping system that will be based upon technology available in the 1990s was defined. Uncertainties in emerging and advanced technologies related to the conceptual design were identified and recommended for inclusion as preferred system components. System component technologies identified for an end-to-end system include thermal infrared, linear array detectors, automatic georeferencing and signal processing, geosynchronous satellite communication links, and advanced data integration and display. Potential system configuration options were developed and examined for possible inclusion in the preferred system configuration. The preferred system configuration will provide increased performance and be cost effective over the system currently in use. Forest fire management user requirements and the system component emerging technologies were the basis for the system configuration design. A preferred system configuration was defined that warrants continued refinement and development, examined economic aspects of the current and preferred system, and provided preliminary cost estimates for follow-on system prototype development.

Nichols, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Modeling the controls of forest productivity using canopy variables

A framework is presented by which a generalized, canopy-driven model of biogeochemical cycling in forest ecosystems may be produced. Recent research results demonstrating relationships between canopy characteristics and important ecosystem processes are used to support this approach. Most relationships hold across species groups and suggest that identification of species may not be crucial. Linking this type of model to remote sensing will depend on developing the capability to measure a few key morphological and chemical parameters of whole forest canopies by reflectance characteristics.

Aber, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Comparison of leaf and canopy reflectance of subarctic forests

Near-surface and aerial reflectance of foliage and canopies of subarctic forests were measured in central Alaska near Fairbanks. Bi-directional and hemispherical radiometric data were recorded over wavelengths ranging from 0.285 to 2.8 microns with emphasis on Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) bands. Comparison of near-surface and aerial data indicates that the canopy of some species such as black spruce and aspen have reflectance values similar to their respective foliage. Other species such as birch have large differences. Canopy structure and understory vegetation appear to be the primary factors that control whether the reflectance of canopy and foliage are similar or different. The results suggest that radiation reflected from the canopy of some forest species will be close to laboratory measurements of foliage after atmospheric corrections.

Dean, K. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B experiment over Argentina Mapping of forest units

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B data of the Cordon la Grasa region of the Chubut Province of Argentina are used to discriminate various forest types by their relative brightness versus incidence angle signatures. The region consists of several species of Nothofagas which change in canopy structure with elevation, slope, and exposure. In general, the factors that appear to impact the radar response most are canopy structure, density, and ground cover (presence or absence of dead trunks and branches in particular). The results of this work indicate that (1) different forest species, and structures of a single species, may be discriminated using multiple incidence angle radar imagery and (2) it is essential to consider the variation in backscatter due to incidence angle when analyzing the comparing data collected at varying frequencies and polarizations.

Cimino, J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Forest canopy characterization and vegetation penetration assessment with space-borne radar

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Shuttle Imaging Radar-B mission were used to analyze the effects of radar incidence angle on information content and vegetation penetration. Three SAR data sets using incidence angles of 26, 46, and 58 deg were acquired over the mangrove jungles of Southern Bangladesh. The data sets were digitally processed using 3 x 3, 7 x 7, and 11 x 11 spatial filters and geometrically registered to a multisource-multilevel-corraborative data base consisting of Landsat data, forest map data, and in situ acquired forest enumeration and topographic information. Analyses revealed that significant vegetation 'penetration' was found at all angles, and that tree and canopy structural morphology may exert an influence on this phenomenon.

Imhoff, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Geometric-optical bidirectional reflectance modeling of a conifer forest canopy

A geometric-optical forest canopy model that treats conifers as cones casting shadows on a contrasting background explains the major anisotropies in bidirectional reflectance measurements of a conifer forest canopy. The model uses parallel-ray geometry to describe the illumination and viewing of conifers as three-dimensional cones. Both computer simulation and analytical closed-form expressions are implemented. The results show a good qualitative agreement with the directional reflectance measurements of the conifer stand, indicating that the three-dimensional nature of the canopy is a key factor in determining its directional reflectance.

Li, X.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Remote detection of forest damage

The use of remote sensing to discriminate, measure, and map forest damage is evaluated. TM spectal coverage, a helicopter-mounted radiometer, and ground-based surveys were utilized to examine the responses of the spruces and firs of Camels Hump Mountain, Vermont to stresses, such as pollution and trace metals. The basic spectral properties of vegetation are described. Forest damage at the site was estimated as 11.8-76.0 percent for the spruces and 19-43.8 percent for the balsam firs. Shifts in the spectra of the conifers in particular in the near IR region are analyzed, and variations in the mesophyll cell anatomy and pigment content of the spruces and firs are investigated. The relations between canopy moisture and damage is studied. The TM data are compared to aircraft data and found to be well correlated.

Rock, B. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Digital image classification approach for estimating forest clearing and regrowth rates and trends

A technique is presented to monitor vegetation changes for a selected study area in Costa Rica. A normalized difference vegetation index was computed for three dates of Landsat satellite data and a modified parallelipiped classifier was employed to generate a multitemporal greenness image representing all three dates. A second-generation image was created by partitioning the intensity levels at each date into high, medium, and low and thereby reducing the number of classes to 21. A sampling technique was applied to describe forest and other land cover change occurring between time periods based on interpretation of aerial photography that closely matched the dates of satellite acquisition. Comparison of the Landsat-derived classes with the photo-interpreted sample areas can provide a basis for evaluating the satellite monitoring technique and the accuracy of estimating forest clearing and regrowth rates and trends.

Sader, Steven A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Estimating key forest ecosystem parameters through remote sensing

Forest canopy chemistry and biomass indicators of ecosystem photosynthesis and decomposition processes are presently studied in view of Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data, which generated spectra from averaged 3 x 3 pixel areas for each of 20 sites for mutual qualitative comparison. Vegetation spectra were strongly differentiated from other cover types by an apparent absorption feature at 1500-1700 nm. Preliminary work with stepwise regression suggests that lignin may play a role in canopy reflectance, and that there is potential for remote detection of forest canopy lignin.

Wessman, Carol A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Correlation between aircraft MSS and lidar remotely sensed data on a forested wetland

Inland wetland in a portion of the Savannah River swamp forest were mapped with an overall accuracy of 88.5 percent on April 26,l985 using high resolution aircraft Daedalus AADS-1268 MSS data. In addition, data were acquired using a NASA sensor system flown along two flight lines over the Steel Creek Delta. The data were significantly correlated with in situ tree height measurements. The data were registered to the wetland classification map and correlated. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the laser derived canopy height information was significantly associated with the Steel Creek Delta wetland classes encountered along the transect (an F-value of 58.46 at the 0.0001 level of confidence). The relationship between vegetation height and vegetation type was then used to produce a three-dimensional model of the landscape which can be of value when computing biomass or canopy density in this forested wetland environment.

Jensen, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Nitrogen transformations following tropical forest felling and burning on a volcanic soil

Nitrogen transformations and loss were measured following forest clearing in a relatively fertile tropical forest site. Nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, and amounts of ammonium and nitrate increased substantially in surface soils during the 6 mo following burning, then returned to background levels. The nitrogen content of microbial biomass declined to half its original value 6 mo after clearing and remained low in the cleared sites. Plant uptake of nitrogen was substantial on cleared plots (50 g/sq m), but it accounted for only 18 percent of N-15 label added to field plots. MIcrobial immobilization of N-15 was small relative to that in a cleared temperate site, and measurements of denitrification potentials suggested that relatively little mineralized nitrogen was lost to the atmosphere. Substantial amounts of nitrogen (40-70 g/sq m) were retained as exchangeably bound nitrate deep in the soils of a cleared plot on which revegetation was prevented; this process accounted for 12 percent of the N-15 label added to field plots.

Matson, Pamela A.↗