Results of remote-sensing tests for oceanography at Texas A and M University
Airborne tests of multispectral scanners to determine usefulness of remote sensors in surveying river, coastal, and deep-sea phenomena
Paris, J. F.↗
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Ground truth versus no ground truth
The area of study was the southeastern Arizona test site and three areas within the site were studied in detail: Safford, Point of Pines, and Fort Apache-White River. These areas have terrain contrast ranging from flat arid regions to high alpine mountains. Data were obtained from the Apollo 9 photographic missions, high altitude aerial photography, and simulated ERTS-A data from high altitude aircraft. Various monoscopic and steroscopic devices were used to analyze the features, and film density variations were studied. No ground-based data were permitted. Thematic maps were prepared for geology, geomorphology, vegetation, hydrology, and soils. Interpreted boundaries were delineated, with no collaborative data used in the interpretation. Ground-based data were gathered during the overflight of high altitude aerial photography. A further study was made using the ground truth, and the data gathered on the ground were compared with original mapping. 80% to 85% of the interpretations in the areas checked were correct. It was proved that it is possible to monitor gross features of the vigor of crop lands and vegetative cover, to type soils and classify geologic features, and to determine hydrologic conditions.
Torbert, G. B.↗
Spectral reflectance characteristics and automated data reduction techniques which identify wetland and water quality conditions in the Chesapeake Bay
Progress on research designed to test the usability of multispectral, high altitude, remotely sensed data to analyze ecological and hydrological conditions in estuarine environments is presented. Emphasis was placed on data acquired by NASA aircraft over the Patuxent River Chesapeake Bay Test Site, No. 168. Missions were conducted over the Chesapeake Bay at a high altitude flight of 18,460 m and a low altitude flight of 3070. The principle objectives of the missions were: (1) to determine feasibility of identifying source and extent of water pollution problems in Baltimore Harbor, Chesapeake Bay and major tributaries utilizing high altitude, ERTS analogous remote sensing data; (2) to determine the feasibility of mapping species composition and general ecological condition of Chesapeake Bay wetlands, utilizing high altitude, ERTS analogous data; (3) to correlate ground spectral reflectance characteristics of wetland plant species with tonal characteristics on multispectral photography; (4) to determine usefulness of high altitude thermal imagery in delinating isotherms and current patterns in the Chesapeake Bay; and (5) to investigate automated data interpretive techniques which may be usable on high altitude, ERTS analogous data.
Anderson, R. R.↗
Quiet-time electron increases, a measure of conditions in the outer solar system
One possible explanation for quiet-time electron increases, increases in the intensity of 3-12 MeV interplanetary electrons that have been reported by McDonald, Cline and Simnett, is discussed. It is argued that the electrons in quiet-time increases are galactic in origin, but that the observed increases are not the result of any variation in the modulation of these particles in the inner solar system. It is suggested instead that quiet-time increases may occur when more electrons than normal penetrate a modulating region that lies far beyond the orbit of earth. The number of electrons penetrating this region may increase when field lines that have experienced an unusually large random walk in the photosphere are carried by the solar wind out to the region. As evidence for this increased random walk, it is shown that five solar rotations before most of the quiet-time increases there is an extended period when the amplitude of the diurnal anisotropy, as is measured by the Deep River neutron monitor, is relatively low. Five rotations delay time implies that the proposed modulating region lies at approximately 30 AU from the Sun, assuming that the average solar wind speed is constant over this distance at approximately 400 km/sec.
Fisk, L. A.↗
Recognition on space photographs of structural elements of Baja California
Gemini and Apollo photographs provide illustrations of known structural features of the peninsula and some structures not recognized previously. An apparent transform relationship between strike-slip and normal faulting is illustrated by the overlapping vertical photographs of northern Baja California. The active Agua Blanca right-lateral strike-slip fault trends east-southeastward to end at the north end of the Valle San Felipe and Valle Chico. The uplands of the high Sierra San Pedro Martir are a low-relief surface deformed by young faults, monoclines, and warps, which mostly produce west-facing steps and slopes; the topography is basically structural. The Sierra Cucapas of northeasternmost Baja California and the Colorado River delta of northwesternmost Sonora are broken by northwest-trending strike-slip faults. A strike-slip fault is inferred to trend northward obliquely from near Cabo San Lucas to La Paz, thence offshore until it comes ashore again as the Bahia Concepcion strike-slip fault.
Hamilton, W.↗
Test of airborne fluorometer over land surfaces and geologic materials
Response of an experimental Fraunhofer line discriminator to a wide range of surficial deposits common in deserts and semideserts was tested in the laboratory and from an H-19 helicopter. No signals attributable to fluorescence were recorded during 540 miles of aerial traverses over southeastern California and west-central Arizona. It was concluded that exposed surfaces of target materials throughout the traverses were either nonluminescent at 5890 A or not sufficiently so to be detectable. It cannot be ruled out that the lack of fluorescence is partly attributable to surficial coatings of nonluminescent weathered material. The principal route surveyed from the air was from Needles, California to Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley and return, via the Amargosa River valley, Silurian Lake (dry), Silver Lake (dry), and Soda Lake (dry). Principal targets traversed were unconsolidated clastic sediments ranging from silty clay to cobbles, and a wide range of evaporite deposits.
Stoertz, G. E.↗
The development of spectro-signature indicators of root disease impacts on forest stands
A field research program was begun in 1969 and intensified in 1970 on the physiology and biophysical responses of second-growth Douglas fir infected with root rot fungus. A double tramway system was suspended between three 100-foot instrument towers to carry sensors for measuring the energy response from above both healthy and infected trees. Processing and analysis was completed of airborne multispectral scanner imagery collected over the Wind River research area in 1969. Likelihood ratio processing of three-channel infrared data and Euclidean distance analysis of ten-channel spectrometer data did not identify incipient root rot infection outside the training sets. In all cases infected fir was misclassified as healthy fir. It was concluded from careful examination of physiological data that Poria root rot infection has little effect on water metabolism and energy exchange. What was identified was a low-grade stress that affects respiration and metabolism over long periods of time. This led to minor changes in the external physical symptoms of Poria-infected trees which was revealed only in the shortwave reflectance data.
Weber, F. P.↗
Salinity surveys using an airborne microwave radiometer
The Barnes PRT-5 infrared radiometer and L-band channel of the multifrequency microwave radiometer are used to survey the distribution of surface water temperature and salinity. These remote sensors were flown repetitively in November 1971 over the outflow of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. Data reduction parameters were determined through the use of flight data obtained over a known water area. With these parameters, the measured infrared and microwave radiances were analyzed in terms of the surface temperature and salinity.
Paris, J. F.↗
Surface truth measurements of optical properties of the waters in the northern Gulf of California
Gemini and Apollo flight photographs of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, and especially of the Colorado River delta and the northwestern Gulf of California, are considered. The clearly discernible water coloration in the imagery led to the suggestion that remote sensing techniques may be usefully applied in such areas to determine bathymetric information. Measurements of the optical properties of the water in this region obtained in March 1971 showed that generally low transmissivities prevailed and at no station did the beam transmittance for the total water column exceed 2.5 x 10 to the -8th power. It was concluded that any correlation between water depth and spectral radiance at the surface must result from secondarily related phenomena.
Austin, R. W.↗
Measurements from aircraft to characterize watersheds
Remote sensor measurements of the Southern Plains watershed, an 1130 sq mile segment of the Washita River basin in the Texas Panhandle, are discussed. Soil moisture measurements are emphasized, along with rainfall storage capacity of the soil. Indicators of pond water quality, geologic sources of sediment or salt, and rapid methods of mapping seepage are being searched for through remote sensing.
Blanchard, B. J.↗
Planetary geology, stellar evolution and galactic cosmology
Field studies of selected basalt flows in the Snake River Plain, Idaho, were made for comparative lunar and Mars geological investigations. Studies of basalt lava tubes were also initiated in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and northern California. The main effort in the stellar evolution research is toward the development of a computer code to calculate hydrodynamic flow coupled with radiative energy transport. Estimates of the rotation effects on a collapsing cloud indicate that the total angular momentum is the critical parameter. The study of Paschen and Balmer alpha lines of positronium atoms in the center of a galaxy is mentioned.
Source record↗
A first look at geological aspects of ERTS imagery of Wyoming
There are no author-identified significant results in this report. The analysis of six MSS-5 frames covering most of the western half of Wyoming is discussed. The frames under consideration covered the following areas: (1) Rock Springs, (2) Western Wind River Basin, and (3) Bighorn Basin-Absarokas Mountains. Miscellaneous observations concerning identification of natural and man-made structures are included.
Short, N.↗
Oceanographic observation of New York Bight from ERTS-1
The author has identified the following significant events. The Earth Resources Technology Satellite made a transit over New York Bight on 16 August, 1972. Imagery from this transit shows several oceanographic features that demonstrate the usefulness of remote sensing for large area, synoptic observation of changes in water quality in the coastal zone. Both the extent and turbulent character of the Hudson River plume are discernible in the image. Residue from a dump of waste acid is visible over a five mile area in the apex of the Bight. Little dispersion of this residue has occurred which suggests that this feature will be a persistent signature in images from future satellite transits.
Maul, G. A.↗
Creating new cities through the large air-cushion vehicle.
The air-cushion vehicle (ACV) can travel over concrete roads, grass, sand, mud, swamp, snow, ice, and water. This mobility makes possible a totally new geographical freedom in choosing transportation routes, locating ports, and laying out a city. By the 1980s fleets of large ACV freighters could begin carrying ocean-going cargo. The mobility of an ACV fleet would allow placing hoverports away from areas now crowded. New cities could rise along shallow or reef-bound seacoasts and rivers, just as cities once rose around deep-water seaports.
Anderson, J. L.↗
Quiet-time electron increases - A measure of conditions in the outer solar system.
Discussion of a possible explanation for the increases in the intensity range of 3- to 12-MeV interplanetary electrons that McDonald et al. (1972) have labeled as 'quiet-time electron increases.' It is argued that the electrons in quiet-time increases are galactic in origin but that the observed increases are not the result of any variation in the modulation of these particles in the inner solar system. It is suggested instead that quiet-time increases may occur when more electrons than normal penetrate a modulating region that lies far beyond the orbit of the earth. The number of electrons penetrating this region may increase when field lines that have experienced an unusually large random walk in the photosphere are carried by the solar wind out to the region. As evidence of this increased random walk, it is shown that five solar rotations before most of the quiet-time increases occur there is an extended period when the amplitude of the diurnal anisotropy (measured by the Deep River neutron monitor) is relatively low. A delay time of five rotations implies that the proposed modulating region lies at about 30 AU from the sun if the average solar-wind speed is assumed to be constant at about 400 km/sec over this distance. The implications for the correlation between periods of low-amplitude diurnal anisotropy and quiet-time increases on interplanetary conditions out to about 30 AU and some possible models for the proposed modulating region are also considered.
Fisk, L. A.↗
Onset of magnetospheric substorms.
An examination of the onset of magnetospheric substorms is made by using ATS 5 energetic particles, conjugate balloon X rays and electric fields, all-sky camera photographs, and auroral-zone magnetograms. It is shown that plasma injection to ATS distances, conjugate 1- to 10-keV auroral particle precipitation, energetic electron precipitation, and enhancements of westward magnetospheric electric-field component all occur with the star of slowly developing negative magnetic bays. No trapped or precipitating energetic-particle features are seen at ATS 5 when later sharp negative magnetic-bay onsets occur at Churchill or Great Whale River.
Tsurutani, B.↗
Remote measurements by telephone
Inexpensive device permits measurement and remote interrogation of variables such as voltage, temperature, pressure, or humidity by standard telephone equipment. Remote interrogation of wind direction and velocity, humidity, or water levels on flood-prone river are other possible representative uses for this device.
Miller, R. L.↗
An ERTS multispectral scanner experiment for mapping iron compounds
There are no author-identified significant results in this report. An experimental plan for enhancing spectral features related to the chemical composition of geological targets in ERTS multispectral scanner data is described. The experiment is designed to produce visible-reflective infrared ratio images from ERTS-1 data. Iron compounds are promising remote sensing targets because they display prominent spectral features in the visible-reflective infrared wavelength region and are geologically significant. The region selected for this ERTS experiment is the southern end of the Wind River Range in Wyoming. If this method proves successful it should prove useful for regional geologic mapping, mineralogical exploration, and soil mapping. It may also be helpful to ERTS users in scientific disciplines other than geology, especially to those concerned with targets composed of mixtures of live vegetation and soil or rock.
Vincent, R. K.↗