Project Funding: 2011 - 2012

NRA: 2010 NASA: HyspIRI Preparatory Activities Using Existing Imagery   

Funded by NASA

Abstract:
Our study is an initial step toward addressing two mutually related synergistic science questions: 1. What are the spatial and temporal impacts of volcanic activity and industrial pollutants on the surrounding vegetation? 2. Given measured changes in vegetation extent and properties, what changes in volcanic activity can be inferred to be occurring or to have occurred? We propose to experimentally demonstrate that changes in the extent and health of vegetation in proximity to a degassing volcano will be observable in data from the upcoming HyspIRI mission. Toward this goal, we will investigate the impact of the recent (March 2008) opening of the vent at Halemaumau, Hawaii, on the vegetation surrounding Kilauea volcano. We will create a time series of HyspIRI-like images by fusing the available 2006-2010 near coincident Hyperion and ASTER datasets in the Big Island. We will analyze this multi-date dataset to assess the changes to vegetation health and distribution that may be related to the new vent, which for the past two years has been releasing ~1,500 to 2,000 tons of SO2 per day. Specifically, we will characterize the biophysical/biochemical and structural properties of the vegetation on the eastern side of the Island by inverting PROSAILH radiative transfer model, using relevant remote sensing vegetation indexes, and computing a normalized canopy brightness temperature pattern. We will assess the apparent change in these characteristics between 2006 through 2010. The spatial distribution of the vegetation changes will then be compared to an average SO2 distribution pattern for the eastern side of the Island compiled using high-resolution HY-SPLIT dispersal model and historic observational data. The results of this work will serve as a foundation for future in-depth studies of biospheric effects of volcanic, industrial, or other point sources of toxic emissions, and eruption precursors, using HyspIRI and other remote sensing data sets.

Publications:

Koltunov, V. 1989. Experience with INF Treaty Verification and Prospects for the Future in: Verification of Arms Reductions. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 27-30. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-46684-7_3

2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• Toward monitoring the relationship between vegetation condition and volcanic activity with HyspIRI   --   (Alexander Koltunov, Angeles Casas, Susan L. Ustin)   [abstract]

More details may be found in the following project profile(s):

• NASA Biological Diversity & Ecological Conservation (BDEC) Project Profile