Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108967

Title: QUANTIFICATION OF CHLOROPHYLL IN RESERVOIRS OF THE LITTLE WASHITA RIVER WATERSHED USING AIRBORNE VIDEO

Author
item AVARD, M - SOUTHEASTERN OK STATE UNI
item SCHIEBE, F - SST DEVELOPMENT GROUP
item Everitt, James

Submitted to: Journal of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aerial photography and satellite imagery have shown potential for identification of various water parameters, such as turbidity and chlorophyll. Over the past few years, airborne video imaging systems have emerged as remote sensing tools because of the real-time imagery they provide and their multispectral capabilities. A study was conducted to test multispectral videography to assess chlorophyll-a concentration in flood control reservoirs of the Little Washita River watershed in central Oklahoma. Results showed that video cameras equipped with narrow band filters had great potential for estimating chlorophyll-a concentration in reservoirs. These findings should be of interest to environmental managers and consultants.

Technical Abstract: Airborne video cameras equipped with narrow band filters were used to assess chlorophyll-a concentration in flood control reservoirs of the Little Washita River Watershed in central Oklahoma. This study utilizes airborne video cameras equipped with 10 nm band filters centered at the critical wavelengths to assess chlorophyll-a concentration. The video cameras were calibrated using a series of panels and a hand-held spectroradiometer to convert digital numbers into radiance values. This was then processed into reflectance values by the incorporation of solar irradiance data. Results indicate that the relationship between emergent radiance and chlorophyll concentration is best described by the model y=a0 (1-exp x/c), and that the ability to estimate chlorophyll-a concentration in reservoirs using airborne video imagery has a great deal of potential.