Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237867
Title: DESDynI Applications Report: Wetlands Section

Author
item MOGHADDAM, M
item Lang, Megan
item BOURGEAU-CHAVEZ, L
item HUBERTY, B

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2009
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The need to map wetlands is critical for monitoring and modeling water quality, invasive species, water quality, flood extent, wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Although the mapping and monitoring of wetlands has historically been challenging, the increased availability of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and the development of new SAR processing techniques has led to significant progress. SAR is unique in that it can collect imagery regardless of weather and solar illumination to provide information on vegetation structure, extent of flooding, and depth of flooding in wetland ecosystems, even when the ground’s surface is obscured by vegetation. These capabilities allow not only the mapping of wetland type, but the mapping of hydrologic condition year-round. DESDynI will play a significant role in improving our ability to map and monitor wetland systems from local to global scales. There have been significant demonstrations of L-band SAR and other SAR bands for a variety of wetland functions and applications including carbon storage. DESDynI will be key to providing radar imagery to understand our local and global wetland infrastructure in light of climate change pressures.