Proposed Research:Temporal Dynamics of Coral Reefs using Remotely Sensed

DataAlicia L. Simontiasimonti@clarku.edu

http://students.clarku.edu/~asimonti/

Master of Arts Candidate inGeographic Information Science for Development and the Environment

International Development, Community, and EnvironmentGraduate School of Geography

Clark UniversityWorcester, MA USA

Research Advisors: Ron Eastman & John Rogan

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Research Question

Can a correlation between

sea surface temperature and changes in

live coral cover be determined using a

Time Series Analysis of MODIS imagery?

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Outline

• Importance of coral reefs• Importance of remote sensing to

coral reef monitoring• Study Area• Methodology• Conclusion: review the research

question• Q & A time

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Why are coral reefs important?

Biological importance:• most diverse of all marine ecosystems

Economical importance:• stabilize shorelines/prevent erosion• multi-million dollar fisheries industry• tourism

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Benefits of Remote Sensing to Coral Reefs

Alleviates many limitations of in situ data collection

• Ability to observe and analyze reef status across large geographic areas

• Ability to observe and analyze reef status with much greater temporal resolution

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Study Area: Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

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Map courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)http://www.coral.noaa.gov/reef_maps/volume1/belize_large.jpg

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Data and ImageryModerate Resolution Imaging Spectrodiometer

(MODIS):Multispectral, 250 m, 1-2 days, 2000-2007Sea Surface Temperature Product

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER):

Multispectral, 15 & 30 m, 5 days, 2000-2007

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Methodology

• Summarize current literature • Mask out terrestrial areas

• Depth/bathymetry determination• Depth/bathymetric correction

• Map live coral cover• Time series analysis• Correlation

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MethodologyInterference of Water

Image courtesy of Joyce and Phinn, in prep

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Methodology: Live Coral Index

Images courtesy of Joyce et al., in preparation

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Methodology: Time Series Analysis

TSA Component 5: South America

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1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

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Methodology: Correlation

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MethodologyAcquire & organize data

Summarize water & coral

Learn LCI (Live coral index)

Mask land

Water determination/correction

Apply LCI

Develop LCI for MODIS

LCI

Time Series

Correlation

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Research Question

Can a correlation between

sea surface temperature and changes in

live coral cover be determined using a

Time Series Analysis of MODIS imagery?

Proposed Research:Temporal Dynamics of Coral Reefs using Remotely Sensed

DataAlicia L. Simontiasimonti@clarku.edu

http://students.clarku.edu/~asimonti/

Master of Arts Candidate inGeographic Information Science for Development and the Environment

International Development, Community, and EnvironmentGraduate School of Geography

Clark UniversityWorcester, MA USA

Research Advisors: Ron Eastman & John Rogan

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TimelineSummer 2007 Acquire & organize data

Summarize: coral and waterResearch LCI

Fall 2007 PreprocessingApply LCITime series analysis

Spring 2008 CorrelationCompare with current literatureGenerate final paper