November 5 2007ERF 2007 International ConferenceProvidence, RI

• Spectra obtained from airborne inaging spectrometers are similar to lab measures of individual kelp blade reflectances:

• Spectra obtained from airborne inaging spectrometers are similar to lab measures of individual kelp blade reflectances:

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

0.1

400 500 600 700 800 900

Wavelength (nm)R

rs (

sr-1

)

Mature

Immature

Senescent

PHILLS Canopy

NDVI can provide optical estimates of kelp abundance

November 5 2007ERF 2007 International ConferenceProvidence, RI

• Converting NDVI into absolute kelp abundance and productivity:

• Optical BAI = NDVI/0.71• True BAI = Optical BAI * 9.04• Biomass = True BAI/13.3• Productivity = Biomass * 14.7

y = 0.1105x

R2 = 0.7823

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

0 5 10 15 20

Diver Measured BAI

Op

tica

lly D

ete

rmin

ed

BA

I

y = 13.303x

R2 = 0.9829

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3

Frond mass (kg DW)

Fro

nd B

lade

Are

a (m

2 fro

nd-1

)

Standing crop (kg m-2)0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

NP

P (

g d

ry m

ass m-2d-1

)

0

10

20

30

40R2 = 0.623P < 0.0001

a.

Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) NPP = 14.7 x Standing Crop

November 5 2007ERF 2007 International ConferenceProvidence, RI

Carmel Bay

Santa Barbara Coastal LTER

November 5 2007ERF 2007 International ConferenceProvidence, RI

NDVI Derived Density and Productivity of Giant Kelp: Carmel Bay November 2004

NDVI Derived Density and Productivity of Giant Kelp: Carmel Bay November 2004

• 15 Km of irregular coastline

• 1.7 Km2 of kelp canopy

• Biomass: 1400 metric tons dry kelp biomass

• NPP: 19 metric tons dry biomass d-1

• 15 Km of irregular coastline

• 1.7 Km2 of kelp canopy

• Biomass: 1400 metric tons dry kelp biomass

• NPP: 19 metric tons dry biomass d-1

Kelp Density(Kg DW m-2)0.54 – 0.610.62 - 0.680.69 – 0.750.75 – 0.820.83 – 0.880.89 – 0.95

Kelp Productivity(g DW m-2 d-1)

8 – 99.1 – 10

10.1 – 1111.1 – 1212.1 – 1313.1 - 14