Use of the SRI Satellite Image Analyzer Console for Mapping Southern Arizona Plant Communities from ERTS-1 Imagery

SRI satellite image analyzer console for mapping southern Arizona plant communities from ERTS-1 imager

Use of the SRI electronic satellite image analysis console for mapping southern Arizona plant communities from ERTS-1 imagery

Cloud-free imagery covering the Tucson, Ariz., region for the period from August 22 to November 2, 1972, was used to determine the utility of ERTS-1 data for discriminating boundaries between plant communities. The following studies were made from imagery analyzed by use of an Electronic Satellite Image Analysis Console: (1) console-generated color composites from MSS-5 and MSS-6 bands were recorded photographically from the console color monitor. The color photographs were then used to compare with short-term changes in vegetative cover observed on the ground; (2) using the console, microdensitometric traces were made along selected traverses to quantify changes in scene irradiance across the image field; (3) quantitative plant coverage data, collected at ground-truth stations along the traverses, were compared with the densitometric values

Dynamics of distribution and density of phreatophytes and other arid-land plant communities

The author has identified the following significant results. Six ERTS-1 images of the Tucson area, Arizona were analyzed to detect seasonal flushes of plant growth. Paired MSS-6 and MSS-5 bulk images were analyzed, using a ratioing technique, on the Electronic Satellite Image Analysis Console at Stanford Research Institute. Because of unique phenology, desert areas, covered only briefly by dense growths of ephemeral plants, are readily discerned. Grassland, evergreen forest, and riparian communities are also uniquely defined by their phenologies. Relatively sterile areas with little or no plant growth are easily discerned as are areas with varying degrees of plant productivity. The ratioing procedure detects plant coverage in excess of a threshold lying between 25% and 50%. The method is flexible and other coverage thresholds can be used

Dynamics of distribution and density of phreatophytes and other arid-land plant communities

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Film density analyzers for infrared investigations

Joyce-Loebl microdensitometer-isodensitracer for infrared film density analysi

Dual differential interferometer

A dual two-beam differential interferometer that measures both the amplitude and orientation of propagating, broadband surface acoustic waves is disclosed. Four beams are focused on a surface. The four reflected beams are separated into two pairs. The two pairs are detected to produce two signals that are used to compute amplitude and orientation

Detection of short-term changes in vegetation cover by use of LANDSAT imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. By using a constant band 6 to band 5 radiance ratio of 1.25, the changing pattern of areas of relatively dense vegetation cover was detected for the semiarid region in the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona. Electronically produced binary thematic masks were used to map areas with dense vegetation. The foliar cover threshold represented by the ratio was not accurately determined but field measurements show that the threshold lies in the range of 10 to 25 percent foliage cover. Montana evergreen forests with constant dense cover were correctly shown to exceed the threshold on all dates. The summer active grassland exceeded the threshold in the summer unless rainfall was insufficient. Desert areas exceeded the threshold during the spring of 1973 following heavy rains; the same areas during the rainless spring of 1974 did not exceed threshold. Irrigated fields, parks, golf courses, and riparian communities were among the habitats most frequently surpassing the threshold

A preliminary look at AVE-SESAME 6 conducted on 7-8 June 1979

The Atmospheric Variability Experiment - Severe Environmental Storms and Mesascale Experiment 6 period is described. Data collected, synoptic conditions and severe and unusual weather are discussed

A Machian Model of Dark Energy

Einstein believed that Mach's principle should play a major role in finding a meaningful spacetime geometry, though it was discovered later that his field equations gave some solutions which were not Machian. It is shown, in this essay, that the kinematical $\Lambda$ models, which are invoked to solve the cosmological constant problem, are in fact consistent with Mach's ideas. One particular model in this category is described which results from the microstructure of spacetime and seems to explain the current observations successfully and also has some benefits over the conventional models. This forces one to think whether the Mach's ideas and the cosmological constant are interrelated in some way.Comment: Received an Honorable mention in the Essay Contest-2002 sponsored by the Gravity Research Foundation; A paragraph added on how the model can explain the CMB anisotropy observations; To appear in the Classical and Quantum Gravit