CHAPTER 8 Engage Your Environment: Viewing Change from Afar How does remote sens
ID: 298844 • Letter: C
Question
CHAPTER 8 Engage Your Environment: Viewing Change from Afar How does remote sensing help us view environmental change? Explore remote sensing data from areas around the globe that have undergone dramatic change. How does remote sensing help us view environmental change? Learning Objectives You will: 1. Understand how remote sensing is used as an environmental assessment tool. 2. Understand how remote sensing data can be used to document environmental change. Resource U.S. Geological Survey Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change: http://earthshots.usgs.gov/tableofcontents Introduction Remote sensing monitors Earth from afar using a variety of mostly electronic devices that include aircraft, watercraft, spacecraft, and satellites. The data obtained from these remote sensing devices can be used to collect baseline data, detect change over time, and open previously inaccessible locations to study. Background Questions A1. What advantage does remote sensing offer to environmental scientists in evaluating environmental change? A2. Propose a question that could be evaluated by an environmental scientist using remote sensing data. Methods Using the U.S. Geological Survey Earthshots Web site provided, navigate to the following links: Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa Follow-up For each location Earthshot listed above, answer the following questions: What environmental change is being addressed? B1. What types of data are being collected to address this change? Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa B2. How are remote sensing data being used to address or identify this change? Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa B3. To what larger environmental issue is the change linked? Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa B4. Was a conclusion reached based on the remote sensing data collected? Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa B5. Suggest how other data might be combined with remote sensing data to further address the environmental problem. Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida Chernobyl, Ukraine Mount St. Helens, Washington Muskingum mines, Ohio Lake Chad, West Africa Reference U.S. Geological Survey Earthshots: http://earthshots.usgs.gov/tableofcontents
Explanation / Answer
B1)
Las vegas nevada- Urban growth and presence of mineral & population growth
Orlando florida- The physical growth of Orlando, especially to the east and south, is apparent in these images
Chernobyl, Ukraine- Effect on plant and wild life and agriculture
Mount st. helens- Images show the area around Mount St. Helens, in southwestern Washington, before and after its eruption of May 18, 1980.
Muskingum mine, Ohio- These images show shifting strip mines in eastern Ohio, from 1973 to 2013. Also land reclamation is shown in the image as well as forestation.
lake chad, West Africa- Prolonged drought and farming and water usage
B2)
Las vegas nevada- This makes golf courses easy to spot, and their development can be tracked along with the residential areas, spotting mines and salt deposits.
Orlando florida- Helps in building design an dother construction works by providing sink hole datas.
Chernobyl, Ukraine- It helps in predicting an explosion had happened in Chernobyl. The habitat change also can be monitored from this data.
Mount st. helens- How the forest got devastated and how much area got effected can be predicted from the images.
Muskingum mine, Ohio- Based on area of forestation and plantation can be determined from the images.
lake chad, West Africa- Why Lake chad is losing its beauty due to water usage and farming can be described from the images which inturn can be taken care to overcome the problem.
B3)
Las vegas nevada- Population growth
Orlando florida- Collapse of upper roof of deposits an dpopulation growth
Chernobyl, Ukraine- Nuclear accident on April 26, 1986
Mount st. helens- Eruption of May 18, 1980
Muskingum mine, Ohio- Climate change
lake chad, West Africa- Prolonge drought & increasing water usage
B4)
Las vegas nevada- Based on the remote sensing data the progression can be monitored.
Orlando florida- The conclusion was that a worlds high productive grade phosphate deposit is ther ein the south of Orlando
Chernobyl, Ukraine- The vegetation and habbitat for plant and animal change despite of high radiation and mutation is possible
Mount st. helens- The difference of about 1,300 feet in height of the mountain before and after the eruption was concluded.
Muskingum mine, Ohio- The restoration of plant by plantation and grassland
lake chad, West Africa- The area shrunk to 2000km2 today from 25000km2 in 1963.
B5)
Las vegas nevada- Drainage system as well as road transportation system can be combined with remotesensing data to put new drainage as well as new roads without effecting the greenery.
Orlando florida- The position of phosphates can be located far from localities so that it can be mined. The sink holes also can be predicted based on the remote sensing data.
Chernobyl, Ukraine- The vegetation and wild life data can be used to determine radiation level and mutation rate so that areas can be found out for human living.
Mount st. helens- Eruption data and vegetation loss areas can be predicted for plantation as well as mining of new volcanic deposits.
Muskingum mine, Ohio- The restoration of plant by plantation and grassland can be used to calculate forestration rate and mining back filling rate.
lake chad, West Africa- The tributaries can be found out and can be routed into the lake to increase its capacity and to restore its natural beauty