Analysis of NASA's Advanced Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Data Acquired Over Multiple Dates and Flightlines along the Northern Gulf Coastline, Including Barrier Islands

英国石油公司深水地平线漏油事件对墨西哥湾沿岸沼泽生态造成的影响进行基线评估。墨西哥湾沿岸相关的沿海湿地、河口和泻湖系统是不可替代的国家资源，构成了一套独特的生态系统，具有丰富的生物多样性和广泛认可的生态和经济价值。由于各种重量的原油的毒性，有可能使潮汐湿地窒息、严重损害和死亡。这个RAPID项目将解决一些关于这次环境灾难对墨西哥湾生态系统影响的关键科学问题，包括：量化泄漏的程度、生态后果和促成泄漏的环境因素。该项目将侧重于应用创新和独特的算法和计算机程序，将先进可见红外成像光谱仪的高光谱数据转换为海岸沼泽植被功能类型和物种的测量结果；地图物种/功能类型；估算植被密度；通过比较污染和未污染的植被来评估植被胁迫的证据；并绘制出湿地中石油污染的位置。这项研究将对州和联邦资源管理者、政策制定者和该地区的公民有价值。这些数据将建立一个基线，以衡量石油泄漏的长期后果。

Funds are awarded to carry out a baseline assessment of the impacts on the ecology of the Gulf Coast marshes resulting from BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The associated coastal wetlands, estuaries and lagoon systems of the Gulf Coast are an irreplaceable national resource and comprise a unique suite of ecosystems of rich biodiversity and widely recognized ecological and economic value. Because of the toxicity of all weights of crude oil there is the potential for smothering, significant injury and mortality of the tidal wetlands. This RAPID project will address a number of critical scientific questions about the impact of this environmental disaster on the ecosystems of the Gulf including: quantifying the extent of the spill, ecological consequences, and environmental factors that contributed. The project will focus on the application of innovative and unique algorithms and computer programs to convert hyperspectral data from the Advanced Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer into measurements of coast marsh vegetation functional types and species; map species/functional type; estimate density of vegetation; evaluate evidence of vegetation stress by comparing contaminated vs. uncontaminated vegetation; and map the location of oil contamination in the wetlands. The research will be valuable to state and federal resource managers, policy makers, and citizens of the region. The data will establish a baseline to measure the longer term consequences to the oil spill.