Cooling water effluent from nuclear reactors may be discharged into water bodies and streams. The thermal effluent gradually cools as it progresses through the hydrologic system. It is important to know the spatial distribution of the thermal effluent, as-well-as the rate at which the thermal effluent is cooling. In addition, it is important to model the spatial distribution of the thermal effluent, so that various predictions of effects can be tested theoretically without having to attempt realtime modifications in the release of thermal effleunts. Thermal information is very difficult to acquire over large areas using in situ (ground based) techniques. Therefore, a remote sensing approach is often used. This study reports on the results of such an investigation for the Four Mile Creek delta located on the Savannah River Plant (SRP) near Aiken, South Carolina.
Abstract Inland wetland in a portion of the Savannah River swamp forest were mapped with an overall accuracy of 88.5% on April 26, 1985 using high resolution aircraft Daedalus AADS‐1268 multispectral scanner (MSS) data. In addition, light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) data were acquired using a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sensor system flown along two flight lines over the Steel Creek Delta. The LIDAR data were significantly con‐elated (R2=0.988 at the 0.0001 level of confidence) with in situ tree height measurements. The LIDAR data were registered to the wetland classification map and correlated. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the laser derived canopy height information was significantly associated with the Steel Creek Delta wetland classes encountered along the LIDAR transect (an F‐value of 58.46 at the 0.0001 level of confidence). The relationship between vegetation height and vegetation type was then used to produce a three‐dimensional model of the landscape which can be of value when computing biomass or canopy density in this forested wetland environment.
Abstract Airborne Daedalus DS-1260 MSS data were acquired over three water cooling reservoirs (active to inactive, large (1068 ha) to small (68-6 ha)) concurrent with field data collection to map the distribution of the water quality as related to the trophic state within each reservoir. Water characteristics, including algal pigments, total suspended particles, as well as dissolved and particulate organic matter, were obtained at 31 sites. These water quality measurements were evaluated in terms of their importance in explaining water phenomena observed by using remote sensing reflectance images. Measurements that exhibited unique variances were related to remote sensing data using a statistical methodology to identify relations explaining the greatest amount of variance for each water variable. This approach resulted in predictor equations explaining 91 per cent of the chlorophyll-a variance, 91 per cent of the total suspended particles variance, and 98 per cent of a Trophic State Index variance based on the depth of light penetration. Further, remotely-sensed thermal data explained 88 per cent of the measured surface water temperature variance. These relations were used to produce maps depicting the quantitative distribution of these water quality variables and the bulk near-surface water temperature distribution within the active water cooling reservoir. The two-water cooling reservoirs not affected by thermal inflows were characterized by water containing very low and uniform concentrations of all water property measures. Conversely, the thermally active reservoir was characterized by higher and more variable water property concentrations; there was a spatial covariation between decreases in the bulk near-surface water temperature and increases in almost all water quality indicators.
Aquatic macrophytes are non-woody plants, larger than microscopic size, that grow in water. They are an essential component of wetland communities because they provide food and habitat for a variety of wildlife, and they regulate the chemistry of the open water. Unfortunately, they also hinder human activities by clogging reservoirs and affecting recreational activities. Given their impact on environmental processes as well as on human activities, it is important that aquatic macrophytes be monitored and managed wisely. This research focuses on developing a predictive model, based on several biophysical variables, to determine the future distribution of aquatic macrophytes. Par Pond, a cooling reservoir at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, was selected as the study area. Four biophysical variables, including water depth, percent slope, fetch, and soils, were digitized into a geographic information system (GIS) database. A logistic multiple regression (LMR) model was developed to derive coefficients for each variable. The model was applied to seven water depths ranging from the 181-foot contour to the 200foot contour at Par Pond to determine the probability of aquatic macrophyte occurrence at each water level. Application of the LMR model showed that the total area of wetland would decline by nearly 114 ha between the 200- and 181foot contours. The modeling techniques described here are useful for predicting areas of aquatic macrophyte growth and distribution, and can be used by environmental scientists to develop effective management strategies.
Abstract Thermal infrared imagery of the Pen Branch delta on the Savannah River Plant near Aiken, South Carolina, USA, were obtained on 12 March 1983 and 6 April 1984 during flood and non‐flood conditions. These data were registered to one another and then analyzed using digital image processing techniques to: (1) compute the rate of temperature change as the thermal effluent progressed downstream using transect techniques, and (2) mathematically model the spatial distribution of the thermal effluent using fourth and seventh‐order trend surfaces. These two mathematical expressions of the thermal data allowed more effective understanding of how the temperature of the thermal effluent changed as it progressed through the Pen Branch delta hydrologic system.
Abstract Portions of the Savannah River floodplain swamp were evaluated for vegetation change using high resolution (5·6 m) aircraft multispectral scanner (MSS) data. Image distortion from aircraft movement prevented precise image-to-image registration in some areas. However, when small scenes were used (200–250 ha), a first-order linear transformation provided registration accuracies of less than or equal to one pixel. A larger area was registered using a piecewise linear method. Five major wetland classes were identified and evaluated for change. Phenological differences and the variable distribution of vegetation limited wetland type discrimination. Using unsupervised methods and ground-collected vegetation data, overall classification accuracies ranged from 84 per cent to 87 per cent for each scene. Results suggest that high-resolution aircraft MSS data can be precisely registered, if small areas are used, and that wetland vegetation change can be accurately detected and monitored.
Airborne Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data, large-scale aerial photography, and LANDSAT MSS and Thematic Mapper (TM) data were used to map a variety of wetland conditions along the Savannah River watershed in South Carolina. Predawn thermal infrared MSS imagery was analyzed to map the spatial distribution and migration of thermal effluent entering a portion of the Savannah River floodplain and the Savannah River below Augusta, Georgia. Daytime airborne MSS data were used to classify specific wetland vegetation types and associate them with their apparent (remotely sensed) temperature. Large scale, multiple data aerial photography were ideally suited to follow the growth of vegetational changes associated with the thermal discharges into the floodplain. LANDSAT MSS imagery obtained in the spring was used effectively to map the entire Savannah River watershed. LANDSAT TM imagery obtained in the summer was of limited use in regional wetland mapping. 21 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.
Over 40,000 frames of vertical historical photography from 1938 to 1996 and over 10,000 frames of oblique photography from 1981 to 1991 of the 777-square kilometer Savannah River Site in south central South Carolina were reviewed, cataloged, and referenced utilizing ARCView and associated ArcInfo tools. This allows environmental reviews of over 400 potential waste units on the SRS to be conducted in a rapid fashion to support preparation of work plans, characterization, risk assessments, and closure of the waste units in a more cost effective manner.
Abstract Considerable analog and digital remotely sensed imagery is in danger of being lost for future research if appropriate analog and digital methods of data archiving are not initiated. In addition, there should be some mechanism for accessing and viewing the archived information. This paper summarizes important issues that must be resolved when developing a remote sensing image browse and archival system, including: selection of the storage media having the greatest longevity and least cost, browse versus archive considerations, image scanning considerations, data compression logic, degree of image rectification required, and the design of the user interface including method of interaction (traditional versus hypertext) and methods of search (space‐dominant, time‐dominant and/or attribute‐dominant). An operational hypermedia browse and archival system demonstrates how these considerations might be addressed.
