Robert K. Vincent

Infrared reflectance from mat surfaces.

A general theory is presented which segregates the rays composing the total reflectance from a mat surface according to their dependence on the intrinsic absorption coefficient. It is tested against experimental data obtained from samples of two materials (calcite and gypsum) which display a range of absorption band intensities over the 4-14-micro region. The ability of the theory to predict the different reflection behavior of bands of various intensities is demonstrated and considered important for explaining remote sensing data.

Thermal-infrared spectra and chemical analyses of twenty-six igneous rock samples

Abstract Emittance spectra in the 7.5 μm to 14 μm wavelength region and chemical compositions of 26 igneous rocks are reported. Experimental measurements on the rocks were made under simulated daytime field conditions. Some surface silicate contaminants, such as clayey silt, significantly altered the spectral emittance of a fresh sample, whereas, for these samples, hydrous and anhydrous ferric oxide weathering products did not mask important silicate spectral information. In the 11.75 μm to 13.75 μm wavelength region, the mean emittance of all the silicate samples was0.956 ± 0.008, except for periodtite, which had an average emittance of 0.895. This region of uniform emittance should be useful in remote sensing experiments for the separation of the effects of temperature and chemical composition on the spectral emittance of silicate rocks.

Rock-Type Discrimination from Ratioed Infrared Scanner Images of Pisgah Crater, California

The radiances in two thermal infrared channels of an airborne scanner system were ratioed to produce images that recorded compositionally diagnostic emittance variations for several silicate rock types near Pisgah Crater, California.

Remote sensing of soybean stress as an indicator of chemical concentration of biosolid amended surface soils

The accumulation of heavy metals in the biosolid amended soils and the risk of their uptake into different plant parts is a topic of great concern. This study examines the accumulation of several heavy metals and nutrients in soybeans grown on biosolid applied soils and the use of remote sensing to monitor the metal uptake and plant stress. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted with soybeans grown on soils applied with biosolids at varying rates. The plant growth was monitored using Landsat TM imagery and handheld spectroradiometer in field and greenhouse studies, respectively. Soil and plant samples were collected and then analyzed for several elemental concentrations. The chemical concentrations in soils and roots increased significantly with increase in applied biosolid concentrations. Copper (Cu) and Molybdenum (Mo) accumulated significantly in the shoots of the metal-treated plants. Our spectral and Landsat TM image analysis revealed that the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) can be used to distinguish the metal stressed plants. The NDVI showed significant negative correlation with increase in soil Cu concentrations followed by other elements. This study suggests the use of remote sensing to monitor soybean stress patterns and thus indirectly assess soil chemical characteristics.

Mapping the total phosphorus concentration of biosolid amended surface soils using LANDSAT TM data

Conventional methods for soil sampling and analysis for soil variability in chemical characteristics are too time-consuming and expensive for multi-seasonal monitoring over large-scale areas. Hence, the objectives of this study are: 1) to determine changes in chemical concentrations of soils that are amended with treated sewage sludge; and 2) to determine if LANDSAT TM data can be used to map surface chemical characteristics of such amended soils. For this study, we selected two fields in NW Ohio, designated as F34 and F11, that had been applied with 34 and 11 ton acre(-1) of biosolids, respectively. Soil samples from a total of 70 sampling locations across the two fields were collected one day prior to LANDSAT 5 overpass and were analyzed for several elemental concentrations. The accumulation of Ba, Cd, Cu, S and P were found to be significantly higher in the surface soils of field F34, compared to field F11. Regression equations were established to search for algorithms that could map these five elemental concentrations in the surface soils using six, dark-object-subtracted (DOS) LANDSAT TM bands and the 15 non-reciprocal spectral ratios derived from these six bands for the May 20, 2005, LANDSAT 5 TM image. Phosphorus (P) had the highest R(2) adjusted value (67.9%) among all five elements considered, and the resulting algorithm employed only spectral ratios. This model was successfully tested for robustness by applying it to another LANDSAT TM image obtained on June 5, 2005. Our results enabled us to conclude that LANDSAT TM imagery of bare-soil fields can be used to quantify and map the spatial variation of total phosphorous concentration in surface soils. This research has significant implications for identification and mapping of areas with high P, which is important for implementing and monitoring the best phosphorous management practices across the region.

Health Survey of Residents Living Near Farm Fields Permitted to Receive Biosolids

The authors studied the health status of residents living in Wood County, OH, near farm fields that were permitted to receive biosolids. They mailed a health survey to 607 households and received completed surveys from 437 people exposed to biosolids (living on or within 1 mile of the fields where application was permitted) and from 176 people not exposed to biosolids (living more than 1 mile from the fields where application was permitted). The authors allowed for up to 6 surveys per household. Results revealed that some reported health-related symptoms were statistically significantly elevated among the exposed residents, including excessive secretion of tears, abdominal bloating, jaundice, skin ulcer, dehydration, weight loss, and general weakness. The frequency of reported occurrence of bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, and giardiasis were also statistically significantly elevated. The findings suggest an increased risk for certain respiratory, gastrointestinal, and other diseases among residents living near farm fields on which the use of biosolids was permitted. However, further studies are needed to address the limitations cited in this study.

New structural and stratigraphic insights for northwestern Pakistan from field and Landsat Thematic Mapper data

The remote Waziristan region of northwestern Pakistan includes outcrops of the India-Asia suture zone. The excellent exposure of the Waziristan ophiolite and associated sedimentary lithosomes and their inaccessibility made the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data desirable in this study. Landsat TM data were used to create a spectral ratio image of bands 3/4, 5/4, and 7/5, displayed as red, green, and blue, respectively, and a principal component analysis image of bands 4, 5, and 7 (RGB). These images were interpreted in the context of available geologic maps, limited field work, and biostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, and radiometric data. They were used to create a coherent geologic map of Waziristan and cross section of the area that document five tectonic units in the region and provide a new and more detailed tectonic history for the region. The lowest unit is comprised of Indian shelf sediments that were thrust under the Waziristan ophiolite. The ophiolite has been tectonically shuffled and consists of two separate tectonic units. The top thrust sheet is a nappe comprised of distal Triassic to Lower Cretaceous Neotethyan sediments that were underthrust during the Late Cretaceous by the ophiolite riding on Indian shelf strata. The uppermost unit contains unconformable Tertiary and younger strata. The thrust sheets show that the Waziristan ophiolite was obducted during Late Cretaceous time and imply that the Paleocene and Eocene deformation represents collision of India with the Kabul block and/or Asia.

Lunar Eclipse: Infrared Images and an Anomaly of Possible Internal Origin

Infrared images of the lunar eclipse of 13 April 1968 were obtained and compared with infrared images of the 19 December 1964 eclipse. A similarity of apparent strength and distribution of most thermal anomalies on the maria is evident from inspection of these images, indicating that these features are not ephemeral. One new linear thermal anomaly was discovered, which is thermally enhanced during the lunar afternoon. Its close relation to a lunar crustal fracture line and other features of probable internal origin suggests that this anomaly may be of internal origin.

Optimum thermal infrared bands for mapping general rock type and temperature from space

A study was carried out to determine quantitatively the number and location of spectral bands required to perform general rock type discrimination from spaceborne imaging sensors using only thermal infrared measurements. Beginning with laboratory spectra collected under idealized conditions from relatively well-characterized homogeneous samples, a radiative transfer model was used to transform ground exitance values into the corresponding spectral radiance at the top of the atmosphere. Taking sensor noise into account, analysis of these data revealed that three 1 micron wide spectral bands would permit independent estimations of rock type and sample temperature from a satellite infrared multispectral scanner. This study, which ignores the mixing of terrain elements within the instantaneous field of view of a satellite scanner, indicates that the location of three spectral bands at 8.1-9.1, 9.5-10.5, and 11.0-12.0 microns, and the employment of appropriate preprocessing to minimize atmospheric effects makes it possible to predict general rock type and temperature for a variety of atmospheric states and temperatures.

A space-based end-to-end prototype geographic information network for lunar and planetary exploration and emergency response (2002 and 2003 field experiments)

Communications and imaging experiments conducted in the Arizona desert during July of 2002 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) helped to identify a fundamental suite of scientific instruments focused on surface composition and temperature determination for the calibration and validation of NASA and USGS spaceborne and airborne sensors and to integrate them with a hybrid mobile wireless and satellite network for lunar and planetary exploration and emergency response. The 2002 experiment focused on the exchange of remotely sensed and ground truth geographic information between analysts and field scientists. That experiment revealed several modifications that would enhance the performance and effectiveness of geographic information networks (GIN) for lunar and planetary exploration and emergency response. Phase 2 experiments conducted during June 2003 at the USGS Earth Resources and Observation Systems (EROS) Data Centers geologic imaging test site near Dinosaur National Monument in the NE Utah desert incorporated several of the lessons learned from the 2002 experiment and successfully added five major new components: (1) near-real-time hyperspectral and multispectral satellite image acquisition, (2) remotely controlled and coordinated mobile real-time ground sensor measurements during the imaging satellite overpass, (3) long-delay optimized Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol TCP/IP protocols to improve network performance over geosynchronous communications satellite circuits, (4) distributed, multinode parallel computing on NASAs Internet Power GRID (IPG), and (5) near-real-time validation of satellite imagery as part of a successful test of the NASA-USGS National Emergency Mapping Information System.