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Anderson, R. R.

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Under N E7.4- .O. 0 3in the interest of early and wide ds-
semnination of Earth Resources SurveyProgram information and without liability
for any use made thereof."
Progress Report No. 7
Wetlands Ecology, SR 140
Dr. Richard R. Anderson, P.I.
Sept. 30, 1973
Received in ERN
(E74-10003) EBTS-1 DATA USER N74-11144INVESTIGATION OF WETLANDS ECOLOGY
Progress Report, Jul. - Sep. 1973(American Univ.) 10 p HC $3.00 CSCL 08H Unclas
G3/13 00003
Biology Department
The American University
Washington, D.C. 20016
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740003031 2020-03-23T14:05:30+00:00Z
-7
PROGRESS REPORT NO. 7
September 30, 1973
A. Title: ERTS-1 Data User Investigation of Wetlands Ecology, SR140
B. Principal Investigator: Dr. Richard R. Anderson, The American
University, UN-006
C. Problems: none
D. Acoomplishments during July, August, and September include:
1. A field trip was made to the southern (South Carolina -
Georgia) test site for the purpose of looking at various
tidal freshwater marshes and field checking swamps along the
Santee River and at the northern end of Lake Marion in South
Carolina. An additional purpose was to do preliminary field
work in preparation for Skylab data anticipated to cover the
area.
Species composition within and outside the confines of the
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (north of the Savannah River
in South Carolina) was ascertained in order to test the hypo-
thesis that management areas can be distinguished from natural
marsh areas because of vegetative differences and the existence
of d'ikes. The managed area includes dry pools, with essentially
upland vegetation, which are periodically burned and flooded,
and wet pools in which a constant water level is maintained.
The wet pools contain Nymphaea 6dorata (white water lily),
- 2 -
Brasenia schreberi (water shield), Nelumbo lutea (American
lotus), Decodon verticillatus (swamp loosestrife), Panicum
hemitomon (maidencane), Utricularia (bladder wort), and
Polygonum (smartweed). The natural'areas are dominated by
Zizaniopsis miliacea (giant cut grass) with Typha sp. (cat-
tail), Cladium jamaicense (sawgrass), Zizania aquatica (wild
rice), and Panicum hemitomon (maidencane).
On the cloud-free ERTS images 1279-15280-7 (28 APR 73),
1261-15280-7 (10 APR 73), and 1243-15280-7 (23 MAR 73), the
boundary of the Refuge is visible and the managed area is distinct
from the natural marsh. A diked canal, experimental pools,
and differences in dry and wet pools can also be distinguished.
On images later in the growing season, 1297-15275-7 (16 MAY 73),
and 1315-15274-7 (3 JUN 73) it is more difficult to determine
the boundary.
2. Tidal information contained in ERTS-1 Investigation of Wetlands
Ecology, Type II report, Nov. 1972 - May 1973, has been re-
calculated. Table 1 presents the corrected values for the
Georgia, Ossabaw Island test site and Table 2 presents
the corrected values for Charleston, S.C. Tide height and
time of imagery for the 4/10/73 (1216-15280) image of the
Georgia coast should read as follows: Fort McAllister (1) 1 hr.
21 minutes after low tide/0.8 ft., Sunbury (2) 1 hr. 52 minutes
after low tide/l.4 ft., Kilkenny Creek (3) 2 hrs. 21 minutes
-3-
after low tide/2.1 ft. After recalculation of tidal data, the
interpretation of the Georgia coast imagery remains unchanged.
The approximate tide height in the Cooper River Estuary (Charleston,
S.C.) is lowest on 8/19/72 when the riverine drainage channel
was most easily delineated. Continued investigation of the
water levels in the Cooper River Estuary show that the original
average discharge before the building of the Lake Moultrie Dam
was quite small -- perhaps 3,000 - 5,000 cfs. An increase to
the present average of 15,000 cfs would explain the flooding of
areas which are previously marsh. The proposed Corps of Engineers
project will reduce the flow to an average of 3,000 cfs. It
will be of considerable interest to observe the results of this
water manipulation on the estuarine ecology.
3. Stanford Research Institute's ESIAC (Electronic Satellite Image
Analysis Console) was used to analyze wetlands on repetitive
ERTS imagery taken in the vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina,
and Norfolk, Virginia. The following frames were entered
on.the ESIAC console:
Dismal Swamp - North Carolina/Virginia
10/10/72 1079-15142-5,7
1/26/73 1187-15145-5,7
2/13/73 1205-15150-5,7
6/1/73 1313-15150,5,7
Serebreny, S.M. 1973. Study of the Time Lapse Processing for Dynamic
Hydrologic Conditions, Type II Progress Report.
-4-
Charleston, South Carolina - (1) Cooper and
Wando Rivers, (2) Santee River
8/19/72 1027-15263-5,7
10/12/72 1081-15264-5,6
-3/23/73 1243-15274-5,7
4/10/73 1261-15274-5,7
5/16/73 1297-15272-5,7
6/3/73 1315-15271-5,7
These data represent three time sequences, one over the Dismal
Swamp, one over the Santee River Swamp, and one over the coastal
marbhes in the Charleston estuary and along the South Carolina
coast.
ESIAC provides a sequential time-lapse capability for change
detection. All images are carefully registered with the aid
of a grid, and a 2-band color composite for each .date is output
on a CRT, usually with band 6 or 7 in red and band 4 or 5
in cyan. Gray scales may be added after the initial recording
of partial images. Any number of composites can be cycled
on the CRT display indefinitely, giving a good visual presentation
of:
1. Seasonal change in light intensity of earth surface
due to the sun angle and atmospheric attenuation.
2. Seasonal change in vegetation -- deciduous trees
reflect strongly in the IR in spring, less strongly
in fall, and very weakly in winter when the leaves
are off. Conifers, in contrast, show little seasonal
change in reflectance.
3. Seasonal change in the visibility of water or wet
soil underlying wooded swamps as deciduous trees shed
their leaves.
4. Tidal effects as water height changes in coastal marshes.
5. Die-back of highly reflective fresh-water marsh vege-
tation to clearly delineate the landward boundary of
the wetlands.
In order to examine the usefulness of a 2-band ratio technique
as a possible method for separation of wetland from other
scene elements, a number of sample measurements were made
of large stands of vegetation and scene water using SRI's
new two dimensional color space capability. These data are
presently being studied.
4. Summer coverage of the Nanticoke River Marsh test site was
received during the last week in September. Initial analysis
of this imagery indicates the ability to detect seasonal changes
in wetland vegetation. Overall scene brightness between winter
and summer imagery may be a combined effect of sun angle and
vegetation reflectance. However, reflectance patterns within
the marsh between plant communities in the general categories
of high marsh, low marsh, have changed distinctly.
- 6 -
Tidal information for the Nanticoke River area has aided inter-
pretation. Comparison of the tide levels for the 9/1/73 and
8/30/73 imagery indicate a similar low water condition (ref.
Table 3 ) . As previously reported floating ice is visible in
the 9/1/73 imagery. A large sand bar is located immediately
off Fishing Point, Fishing Bay. This sand bar was detected
on the 9/1/73 imagery due to the combined effect of low tide
and the presence of ice. The analysis of seasonal changes and
tidal influence on image tonal patterns is continuing.
5. Analysis of Bendix 24 channel multispectral scanner data using
the LARSYS remote terminal at GSFC is continuing. ERTS-CCT's
have been ordered for both Georgia and North Carolina scenes.
It is anticipated that these tapes will be utilized in the
CRBE system at GSFC and possibly reformatted for use with
LARSYS.
E. Significant Results: None during this period.
F. Papers presented: None during this period.
G. None
H. None
I. None
J. Request submitted for CCT's for ERTS frames 1079-15142, 1046-15324,
and 1205-15150. Some black and white imagery was also ordered over
the Hatchie Bottoms in Tenn.
- 7 -
TABLE 1: Tidal Information Correlated with ERTS Imagery
Ossabaw Island, Georgia
Approx.
Tide
Height
ERTS Tidal (ft. above
Image # Location Range Time Referenced to Mean Low
and Date # (ft.) Tidal Stage Water). Comments
1010- *1 7.7 2 hrs 4 min after LW 2.1 Some cloud cover;
15322 *2 8.3 2 hrs 37 min after LW 2.7 drainage detail excellent;
8/2/72 *3 8.7 3 hrs 4 min after LW 3.6 relatively little species
difference.
1027- 1 4.5 12 min before LW 1.1 High, thin cloud cover
15265 2 6.1 19 min after LW 1.1 over test site; drain-
8/19/72 3 6.5 48 min after LW 1.4 age detail fair; almost
no detail in marsh.
1046- 1 7.9 1 hr 58 min after HW 6.1 Relatively cloud-free;
15324 2 8.5 2 hrs after HW 6.4 drainage detail ob-
9/7/72 3 8.9 2 hrs 17 min after HW 5.8 scurred in darker
portions of marsh; marsh
detail excellent.
1243- 1 6.8 1 hr 34 min before HW 5.5 Cloud-free; drainage
15280' 2 7.4 1 hr 40 min before HW 6.0 detail excellent; marsh
3/23/73 3 7.8 1 hr 15 min before HW 6.8 detail excellent.
* 1 - Ft. McAllister, Ga.; 2 - Sunbury, Ga.; 3 - Kilkenny Creek, Ga.
- 8 -
TABLE 2: Tidal Information Correlated with ERTS Imagery and U-2 Photography
Charleston, South Carolina
Approx.
Tide
Height.
ERTS Tidal (ft. above
Image # Location Range Time Referenced to Mean Low
and Date # (ft.) Tidal Stage Water) Comments
1027- *1 4.3 1 hr. 20 min after LW 1.2 Partial cloud cover;
15263 *2 4.4 2 min after LW 0.8 drainage detail ex-
8/19/72 *3 2.3 1 hr. 45 min before LW 1.2 cellent;both coastal
and inland marsh detail
poor.
U-2
Flight # 1 6.2 13 min before LW -0.1 Cloud-free; color IR --
72-167, 2 7.3 1 hr 09 min before LW 0.6 a little underexposed.
Frames 3 5.2 2 hrs 42 min before LW 2.2 Excellent detail both
4214, 4215, coastal and inland.
4240, 4241,
4242, 4274
9/22/72
1081- 1 4.7 19 min before HW 5.5 Cloud-free; drainage
15264 2 5.8 2 hrs 26 min before HW 5.1 detail poor along coast,
10/12/72 3 3.7 3 hrs 3 min after LW 2.5 good inland marsh detail.
1243- 1 4.2 9 min before HW 4.4 Cloud-free; drainage
15274 2 5.3 2 hrs 16 min before HW 4.4 detail good inland, poor
3/23/73 3 3.2 2 hrs 42 min after LW 1.6 near coast; marsh detail
excellent.
* I - Charleston Harbor; 2 - Woodville, S.C., Wando River; 3 - R. R. Bridge, west
branch of the Cooper River.
9
TABLE 3
TIDAL INFORMATION CORRELATED WITH ERTS IMAGERY, NANTICOKE RIVER TEST SITE
APPROX. TIDE
TIME TIDAL HEIGHT (ft.
REFERENCED RANGE above mean
# ERTS IMAGE # DATE . LOCATION TO TIDAL STAGE (ft.) low water) COMMENTS
1. 1062-15190 23 Sep. '72 *1 2 hrs. 19 min. A LW 3.0 0.9 marsh detail excellent
*2 2 hrs. 20 min. A LW 3.2 0.9 some drainage detail
2. 1079-15133 10 Oct. '72 1 26 min. A LW 2.5 0.2 marsh detail excellent
2 27 min. A LW 2.7 0.2 drainage detail excellent
3. 1080-15192 11 Oct. '72 1 3 min. B LW 1.9 0.3 marsh and drainage
2 2 min. B LW 2.1 0.3 detail excellent
4. 1170-15193 9 Jan. '73 1 1 hr. 3 min. B LW 1.7 -0.1 snow within marsh
2 1 hr. 2 min. B LW 1.9 -0.1 sandbar and ice visible
5. 1187-15140 26 Jan. '73 1 2 hrs. 38 min. A HW 1.7 .1.3 little marsh detail
2 2 hrs. 34 min. A HW 1.9 1.4
6. 1205-15141 13 Feb. '73 1 14 min. B HW 2.1 2.3 little marsh detail
2 18 min. B HW 2.3 2.5 ice and snow visible
7. 1295-15142 14 May. '73 1 1 hr. 56 min. B HW 2.0 1.7 some marsh detail
2 2 hrs. B HW 2.2 1.6 thin cloud cover
8. 1313-15141 1 June '73 1 1 hr. 48 min. A LW 1.9 2.0 'good marsh detail
2 1 hr. 49 min. A LW 2.1 2.0
9. 1349-15134 7 July '73 1 2 hrs. 53 min. A HW 2.0 1.4 excellent marsh detail
2 2 hrs. 49 min. A HW 2.2 1.4
10. 1385-15131 12 Aug. '73 1 2 hrs. 43 min. B HW 2.0 1.5 excellent marsh detail
2 2 hrs. 47 min. B HW 2.2 1.4 some cloud cover
11. 1403-15125 30 Aug. '73 1 27 min. A LW 3.2 -0.2 excellent marsh detail
2 28 min. A LW 3.4 -0.1
*Location Tidal reference station: 1. Roaring Point, Md.; 2. Fishing Point, Fishing Bay.
Abbreviations: A, after; B, before; LW, low water; HW, high water.


ERTS-1 data user investigation of wetlands ecology

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