AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF THE MARINE ECOLOGY OF THE WHITE SEA

Aerial photographic surveys of the White Sea have proven to be an effective means for studying the character of bottom relief and bottom sediments in shallow areas along its coast, particularly when film sensitive to visible radiation in the yellow-green range of the spectrum is used. More specifically, the article discusses methods of aerial photographic surveying, keys for the interpretation of different types of bottom sediments, methods of mapping underwater vegetation from air photos, and the potential of radar imagery for the indirect interpretation of bottom features. Sample interpretation maps from the White Sea are included. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from Izvestiya Vsesoyuznogo Geograficheskogo Obshchestva, 1988, No. 4, pp. 314-321.     

THE MAPPING OF FLOODPLAIN VEGETATION ON A LANDSCAPE BASIS

A “genetic” principle for the identification of morphological units on a floodplain landscape is applied to the mapping of vegetation and, more specifically, to a study of the spatial distribution of forest vegetation within the Ob' River floodplain. Aspects of the problem which are discussed include the identification and ranking of floodplain units and their components and appropriate scales for image interpretation and mapping. The principles and procedures outlined are applicable to the mapping of other floodplains. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1989, No. 2, pp. 78–84.     

ESTIMATES OF THE SENSITIVITY OF COMBINATIONS OF SPECTRAL RADIANCE COEFFICIENTS TO PROPERTIES OF THE VEGETATION COVER

A method is proposed for the calculation, based on the Goudriaan model, of estimates of various combinations of spectral radiance coefficients P_i which are optimal for interpretation of soil color and moisture, vegetation cover density, above-ground reserves of phytomass, and color and orientation of phytoelements. These estimates correspond rather closely with actual measurements obtained from the field. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1986, No. 4, pp. 75-79.     

RADAR IMAGERY IN THE STUDY OF VEGETATION OF THE CENTRAL TAIGA ZONE

This study is devoted to testing the general applicability of radar imagery in vegetation analysis, and, in particular, to determining the potential of radar images obtained for different seasons. In plains areas intermediate-scale radar images are used to discriminate forests differing in age and stand productivity and to identify sectors where the tree stand has been partially destroyed. They also can be used as supplementary material in studying forest resources and in geological research in forested plains areas. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1989, No. 3, pp. 130–134.     

INDUSTRIAL IMPACTS ON VEGETATION IN THE MONCHEGORSK REGION FROM MULTISPECTRAL SPACE IMAGERY

Results are presented of analysis of Landsat MSS imagery for the purpose of assessing damage to northern taiga and tundra vegetation caused by emissions generated by nonferrous metallurgy on northwest Russia's Kola Peninsula. Unlike earlier studies, the present project attempts to provide spatially comprehensive coverage of vegetation impacts, according to a standardized methodology for their assessment. A reduction in the number of feature classes identifiable upon a change from visual interpretation to automated classification based on spectral brightness values made it necessary to test alternative classification procedures (based on brightness ratios and the normalized vegetation index).     

A NATURAL RESOURCE EVALUATION OF ERTS-1 IMAGERY OF THE CENTRAL AFAR REGION IN ETHIOPIA

System corrected multispectral imagery of the Central Afar region in Ethiopia provided by the ERTS-1 satellite was evaluated for the purposes of natural resource inventory under the headings of geology, vegetation, soils and land use. The methods and results of image interpretation are discussed in detail and the following general conclusions may be drawn. The ERTS-1 imagery provides a synoptic view of the region that is very nearly orthographic. A colour composite print of multispectral bands 4, 5 and 7 is superior to any of the individual black and white bands for natural resource interpretation. Exploratory soil, vegetation and land use maps and reconnaissance geological maps can be constructed rapidly. The small percentage of forest and agricultural land in this particular area enhances the geological value of the image. Satellite imagery is a valuable addition to the more conventional forms of aerial photography for agricultural studies provided that the study area covers at least 10 000 km². Ground control was acquired between October 1972 and May 1973.     

ANALYSIS OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY IN ENGINEERING GEOMORPHOLOGY

An image interpretation technique known as “indicational analysis” is applied to engineering geomorphology–i.e., image characteristics visible on remote sensing imagery are used to infer (indicate) the presence of features that are not directly visible. In this case the identification of particular relief forms provides a basis for inferring the level of risk posed by geomorphological hazards to major construction projects such as railroads, pipelines, and highways. A key aspect of the procedure is a multiscalar approach, in which different components of the overall store of information brought to bear on a problem are obtained at different levels of interpretation. Translated from: Geomorfologiya, 1987, No. 2, pp. 35–42.     

MAPPING THE SOILS OF THE MAJOR NATURAL ZONES OF THE USSR FROM REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY

The authors describe the results of their experience in the use of remote sensing imagery to map the distribution of soils within the major natural zones (e.g., wooded steppe, taiga, semidesert) of the USSR. Considerable attention is devoted to instrumental-visual methods of interpretation before the focus shifts to automated interpretation and methods of map compilation, particularly general mapping at intermediate and large scales. One section assesses the relative sizes of mesorelief forms and fields in various natural zones in an effort to determine at what image scales the soil types indicated by these features will be identifiable. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: G. V. Dobrovol'skiy and V. L. Andronikov, eds., Aerokosmicheskiye metody v pochvovedenii i ikh ispol'zovaniye v sel'skom khozyaystve: sbornik nauchnykh trudov [Remote Sensing Methods in Soil Science and Their Utilization in Agriculture: A Collection of Scientific Works]. Moscow: Nauka, 1990, pp. 22-34.     

遥感找矿的生物地球化学信息

地球化学异常的植被响应能形成遥感找矿信息,本文分析了新疆北部阿勒泰地区植物对多种 金属元素异常含量值的敏感性,并以三个已知矿点为实验场,以MSS为主要遥感资料分析了植 被异常的影像特征,圈划出三个植被异常区,以已知的化探异常资料检验,都得到了一定范围的 重叠。     

TEXTURE OF FOREST COMMUNITIES ON AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

The authors discuss a method by which the image characteristics of forest vegetation can be used to determine various valuational characteristics of forest stands through the combination of air photo interpretation and ground surveys at selected training sites. Construction of curves showing changes in image texture and tone occurring at different stages in the growth cycle of a pine forest community are used to estimate the age of a forest stand, and through known relationships between age and other stand characteristics incorporated into yield tables, to approximate such valuational characteristics as mean diameter, mean height, and stand volume. Translated from: Distantsionnyye issledovaniya rel'yefa Sibiri, A. L. Yanshin and V. N. Sharanov, eds. Novosibirsk, Nauka, 1985, pp. 73-78.     

PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPARISON AND INTERPRETATION OF MULTITEMPORAL IMAGERY

General principles are outlined for the use of a series of remote sensing images (obtained for the same area of the earth's surface for different points in time) in the detection of significant changes in land use and environmental conditions. Emphasis is placed on visual methods of interpretation, and a number of different methods for graphically analyzing the dynamics of earth surface features on photographic image products are described. A final section describes procedures for cartographically representing the dynamics of features interpreted from multitemporal images. Translated by Jay Mitchell; PlanEcon, Inc.; Washington, DC 20005 from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1987, No. 6, pp. 57-60.     

高分辨率影像城市绿地快速提取技术与应用

高分辨率遥感影像是城市绿地信息快速提取的主要数据源 ,文中以多尺度影像分割与面向对象影像分析方法为主要技术 ,利用样本多边形对象的成员函数建立训练区 ,自动提取大庆市城市绿地覆盖信息 ,达到清查城市绿地的目的。该方法信息获取周期短、精度高、成本低 ,实现了城市绿地信息精确获取与快速更新。     

INTERPRETATION OF ECOLOGICAL-SOIL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOODED STEPPE ZONE IN THE CENTRAL RUSSIAN UPLAND

The authors describe how remote sensing imagery can be employed in the identification of different types of chernozem soils in a predominantly agricultural zone (forest steppe), where natural vegetation (normally one of the best vegetation indicators) has been largely displaced by farm fields. A multi-stage methodology is outlined whereby small-scale imagery is used to delineate large regions of similar bioclimatic-geologic characteristics, from which areas of similar soil formation conditions are distinguished. Multispectral and multitemporal space imagery then is employed to detect less salient ecological-soil differences that can affect phototone and image texture. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: G. V. Dobrovol'skiy and V. L. Andronikov, eds., Aerokosmicheskiye metody v pochvovedenii i ikh ispol'zovaniye v sel'skom khozyaystve: sbornik nauchnykh trudov [Remote Sensing Methods in Soil Science and Their Utilization in Agriculture: A Collection of Scientific Works]. Moscow: Nauka, 1990, pp 103–109.     

NATURAL ZONES OF THE USSR ON SPACE IMAGERY: A NEW INSTRUCTIONAL AID IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The development of a new instructional aid in geography in the USSR is described–an exhibit featuring wall-map sized space imagery of major natural regions. Each station in the exhibit (prepared jointly by the Moscow University Laboratory of Remote Sensing Methods and the Main Administration of Geodesy and Cartography) includes a color image of a site representing one of seven major natural zones, a series of thematic maps based on results of image interpretation, a map showing the location of the imaged area within the USSR, and a series of ground photographs of typical landscapes and land uses. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1988, No. 2, pp. 36-41 by Natalia B. Barbash, Brooklyn, NY 11209.     

京西地区多种遥感图像地质解译效果评价

笔者以京西王平村地区作为评价区,对多种遥感图像在地质上的解像能力进行了比较和评述。指出了彩红外像片,侧视雷达像片和陆地卫星图像的应用条件,并分析了各种图像在解译中的优势和不足。     

AN INSTRUMENT-AIDED METHOD OF INTERPRETING SCANNER IMAGERY OF THE EARTH'S CLOUD COVER

The author, noting the high cost and complexity of automated methods of processing imagery of the earth's cloud cover, presents a less sophisticated, instrument-aided method yielding similar results. A procedure for analyzing cloud cover patterns based on color synthesis of two-band scanner imagery from Soviet “Meteor” and American NOAA-series weather satellites using a synthesizing projector is outlined. This method adds the interpretation key of color to those of cloud structure and form in the analysis of cloud patterns, enhances cloud-underlying surface contrasts, and compares favorably with more highly automated methods in image preparation and interpretation time. Translated by Jay Mitchell; PlanEcon, Inc.; Washington, DC 20005 from: Izvestiya vysshykh uchebnykh zavedeniy, Geodeziya i aerofotos'yemka, 1987, No. 5, pp. 95-98.     

ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL POLLUTION OF BUFFER ZONES BY MODELING AND SUB-SATELLITE EXPERIMENTS

Principles are outlined for the use of sub-satellite soil, air, water, and vegetation samples as an auxiliary source of information in remote sensing studies of vegetation stress caused by air pollution. More specifically, procedures for satellite-synchronous aerial overflights, vegetation transects, water quality measurements, and soil tests are described as a basis for delineating boundaries between areas of vegetation stress and unpolluted areas in an industrialized area in the central Urals. Translated from: Kosmicheskiy monitoring biosfery, Yu. A. Izrael', V. V. Bugrovskiy, and Yu. V. Novikov, eds. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1985, pp. 93-99.     

ERRORS IN THE INDICATION OF GEOSYSTEMS FROM REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY

After a general discussion of principles of remote sensing indication and image recognition theory, the particular errors in this process are analyzed individually: errors in data recording; errors in automated image analysis; errors in interpretation of the content of geosystems; errors in the selection of interpretation keys; and finally errors in generalization and the extrapolation of results. The total error in geosystem indication from remote sensing imagery can be determined by an analysis of these particular errors. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1988, No. 4, pp. 98-107.