Surface description for urban climate studies: A gis based methodology

In order to understand the nature of the urban climate, predict the effects of urbanization, or attempt to ameliorate some of the negative hydroclimatic effects of urbanization, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the role and significance of the urban surface. This paper presents a methodology which uses GIS to represent the characteristics and morphology of the urban surface, which can be used to describe a site objectively, model fluxes, or ensure spatial consistency between measured and modelled data, all of which can vary through time. The methodology is illustrated with respect to Chicago, Illinois. Surface data collected at three spatial scales were used to construct a georeferenced database which was linked to an objective, dynamic accessing system. Spatial variability of surface cover, derived hydroclimatic attributes, and modelled fluxes associated with changes in the urban environment are used to illustrate potential applications of the approach.     

Computerized database on salt affected soils in western and central India using GIS

Salt affected soils occupy significant areas in western and central India manifested by the arid and semiarid climate, sandy/clayey soil texture, absence of natural drainage, and inadequate infrastructure and irrigation development. These soils are productive following reclamation and appropriate management. The National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad (India) published state-wise maps of salt affected soils in India on 1:250,000 scale using a legend that includes physiography, soil characteristics, and the aerial extent of the mapping units. In the analogue form, voluminous data contained in such maps were difficult to handle by users of varied backgrounds. An attempt was made to prepare a computerized database of salt affected soils for easy access, retrieval, and manipulation of spatial and attribute data useful for management of salt affected soils. The salt affected soils maps were prepared, for Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra states, overlaying digitized layers of SAS polygons and the Survey of India basemap using the ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System) software. GIS was used to prepare a composite (master) database of western and central India that showed the extent and distribution of salt affected soils. A relational database was prepared combining the digitized polygons with soil characteristics such as nature and degree of salinity (presence of higher concentration of neutral salts and neutral soil reaction), sodicity (presence of higher concentration of basic salts and alkaline reaction) and ground coverage. The regional and zonal databases of salt affected soils were prepared at a suitable scale overlaying agro-climatic regions agro-climatic zones. Spatial relation of salt affected soils with physiography, climate, geology, and agro-eco-sub-regions were evaluated employing map calculations in GIS. Saline soils were prevalent in Gujarat, and Rajasthan while sodic soils were dominant in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. These were distributed primarily in the arid (B) plain of Rajasthan, alluvial (A) and coastal (D) plains of Gujarat, and peninsular plain (F) of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It occupied 2,596,942 ha (78%) in the western (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and 733,608 ha (22%) in the central (Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) regions. The SAS occupied 3.3 million ha in the western and central region constituting 50% of the total salt affected soils in India. The saline and sodic soils occupied 2,069,285 ha (62%) and 1,261,266 ha (38%), respectively.     

Mapping spiny aster infestations with QuickBird imagery

QuickBird satellite imagery acquired in June 2003 and September 2004 was evaluated for detecting the noxious weed spiny aster [Leucosyris spinosa (Benth.) Greene] on a south Texas, USA rangeland area. A subset of each of the satellite images representing a diversity of cover types was extracted and used as a study site. The satellite imagery had a spatial resolution of 2.8 m and contained 11-bit data. Unsupervised and supervised classification techniques were used to classify false colour composite (green, red, and near-infrared bands) images of the study site. Imagery acquired in June was superior to that obtained in September for distinguishing spiny aster infestations. This was attributed to differences in spiny aster phenology between the two dates. An unsupervised classification of the June image showed that spiny aster had producer's and user's accuracies of 90% and 93.1%, respectively, whereas a supervised classification of the June image had producer's and user's accuracies of 90% and 81.8%, respectively. These results indicate that high resolution satellite imagery coupled with image analysis techniques can be used successfully for detecting spiny aster infestations on rangelands.     

Remote classification of Cerrado (Savanna) and agricultural land covers in northeastern Brazil

Remote classification of land-use/land-cover (LULC) types in Brazil's Cerrado ecoregion is necessary because knowledge of Cerrado LULC is incomplete, sources of inaccuracy are unknown, and high-resolution data are required for the validation of moderate-resolution LULC maps. The aim of this research is to discriminate between Cerrado and agriculture using high-resolution Landsat 7 ETM⁺ imagery for the western region of Bahia state in northeastern Brazil. The Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithms were applied to a ～3000 km² subset, yielding comparable classification accuracies. The panchromatic band was reserved for validation. User's and producer's accuracies were highest for non-irrigated agriculture (～94%) but lower for Cerrado Lato Sensu (89%). Classification errors likely resulted from spatial and spectral characteristics of particular classes (e.g. riparian forest and burned) and overestimation of other classes (e.g. Eucalyptus and water). Manual misinterpretation of validation data may have also led to lower reported classification accuracies.     

A global inventory of coral reef stressors based on satellite observed nighttime lights

In this article, we present a satellite-based approach to gather information about the threat to coral reefs worldwide. Three chosen reef stressors – development, gas flaring and heavily lit fishing boat activity – are analysed using nighttime lights data derived from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) produced at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA/NGDC). Nighttime lights represent a direct threat to coral reef ecosystems and are an excellent proxy measure for associated human-caused stressors. A lights proximity index (LPI) is calculated, measuring the distance of coral reef sites to each of the stressors and incorporating the stressor's intensity. Colourized maps visualize the results on a global scale. Area rankings clarify the effects of artificial night lighting on coral reefs on a regional scale. The results should be very useful for reef managers and for state administrations to implement coral reef conservation projects and for the scientific world to conduct further research.     

Multi‐sensor Image Maps from SPOT,ERS and JERS

Abstract

Image mapping using data from visible and infrared sensors has, as a major drawback, the frequent cloud cover experienced in many countries. This is one of the main reasons why topographic maps at 1:100,000 scale and larger are often outdated. The results of a study which investigated the possibilities of fusing up‐to‐date spaceborne microwave data with existing images from optical sensors for topographic map updating at a scale of 1:100, 000 are presented in this paper. A key issue researched was the influence of geometric distortions and corrections of remote sensing data on the results of pixel based digital image fusion. After having terrain‐geocoded and radiometrically enhanced imagery from the Landsat, SPOT, ERS‐1 and JERS‐1 satellites, the data were fused applying a variety of colour transformation techniques as well as statistical or arithmetic methods. Initially, the image fusion was implemented using images covering a test site in the north of The Netherlands in order to calibrate specified combinations and techniques in a rather flat area. With the experience gained, the remote sensing data acquired over the research site were processed. The research test site is located in a typical Developing Country in the humid Tropics, on the mountainous south‐west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. The results of the various applied techniques and image combinations were evaluated with reference to their capability to overcome the cloud cover problem. New combinations of techniques and images were developed as result of an optimisation process. The research produced two prototypes of annotated 1:100,000 scale image maps containing fused, cloud‐free optical/microwave imagery.     

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Abstract

Mr. Surveyor A walked into the Club, his first visit after a four-months' field season. He entered the lounge, sank into one of the deep luxurious leather arm-chairs and called for his“sundowner“. In a little while he was joined by several other Government officers, glad to see him after his long absence and eager to hear of his bush experiences and to cap them with stories of their own.     

Seasonal Variation of MODIS Vegetation Indexes and Their Statistical Relationship With Climate Over the Subtropic Evergreen Forest in Zhejiang, China

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 16-day 1-km vegetation index products, daily temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and precipitation from 2001 to 2004 were utilized to analyze the temporal variations of the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI), as well as their correlations with climate over the evergreen forested sites in Zhejiang-a humid subtropical region in the southeast of China. The results showed that both NDVI and EVI could discern the seasonal variation of the evergreen forests. Attributed to the sufficient precipitation in the study area, the growth of vegetation is mainly controlled by energy; as a result, NDVI, and especially EVI, is more correlated with temperature and PAR than precipitation. Compared with NDVI, EVI is more sensitive to climate condition and is a better indicator to study vegetation variations in the study region     

Evaluating a thermal image sharpening model over a mixed agricultural landscape in India

Fine spatial resolution (e.g., <300 m) thermal data are needed regularly to characterise the temporal pattern of surface moisture status, water stress, and to forecast agriculture drought and famine. However, current optical sensors do not provide frequent thermal data at a fine spatial resolution. The TsHARP model provides a possibility to generate fine spatial resolution thermal data from coarse spatial resolution (≥1 km) data on the basis of an anticipated inverse linear relationship between the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) at fine spatial resolution and land surface temperature at coarse spatial resolution. The current study utilised the TsHARP model over a mixed agricultural landscape in the northern part of India. Five variants of the model were analysed, including the original model, for their efficiency. Those five variants were the global model (original); the resolution-adjusted global model; the piecewise regression model; the stratified model; and the local model. The models were first evaluated using Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) thermal data (90 m) aggregated to the following spatial resolutions: 180 m, 270 m, 450 m, 630 m, 810 m and 990 m. Although sharpening was undertaken for spatial resolutions from 990 m to 90 m, root mean square error (RMSE) of <2 K could, on average, be achieved only for 990–270 m in the ASTER data. The RMSE of the sharpened images at 270 m, using ASTER data, from the global, resolution-adjusted global, piecewise regression, stratification and local models were 1.91, 1.89, 1.96, 1.91, 1.70 K, respectively. The global model, resolution-adjusted global model and local model yielded higher accuracy, and were applied to sharpen MODIS thermal data (1 km) to the target spatial resolutions. Aggregated ASTER thermal data were considered as a reference at the respective target spatial resolutions to assess the prediction results from MODIS data. The RMSE of the predicted sharpened image from MODIS using the global, resolution-adjusted global and local models at 250 m were 3.08, 2.92 and 1.98 K, respectively. The local model consistently led to more accurate sharpened predictions by comparison to other variants.     

The Global Impact of Clouds on the Production of MODIS Bidirectional Reflectance Model-Based Composites for Terrestrial Monitoring

A global data set of cloud occurrence probability derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua gridded daily data is analyzed to investigate the probability of obtaining at least a minimum number of cloud-free observations within various compositing periods. The probabilities derived from Terra and Aqua, with morning and afternoon overpass times, respectively, are similar and increase with compositing period. Compositing both Terra and Aqua observations results in considerably higher probabilities of obtaining a sufficient number of observations for bidirectional reflectance model-based compositing. Given that the only alternative to obtaining sufficient samples is to extend the observation period, which can cause significant problems when the surface state changes, it is concluded that using data from the two MODIS sensors provides the most effective way of generating composited products. Findings with respect to the availability of cloud-free composites when n-day composites are generated on a temporally overlapping daily rolling basis, i.e., every day, rather than every n-days, are also discussed for regional and global applications