Unsupervised SPOT classification and infiltration rates on surface mined watersheds, central Pennsylvania

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing; (United States)

OSTI ID:5571356

Guebert, M D; Gardner, T W ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Unsupervised minimum distance classification of digital SPOT data (Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre) provides a spatially extensive and detailed characterization of surface properties on spatially complex surfaces of four mined area and surrounding nonmined land in central Pennsylvania. SPOT imagery identifies seven distinct spectral classes that are related to differences in surface rock type and vegetation cover. Eighty-eight dripping infiltrometer tests were conducted on surfaces of the mined and nonmined land. These data, combined with 50 previously completed tests on mined land, were used to relate infiltration capacity to mine surface properties of surface rock type and vegetation cover. Infiltration capacity generally increases as lithologic composition of the dominant rock fragments on the reclaimed surface varies from sandstone to shale to siltstone, and as vegetation increases on surface of similar rock type. The seven spectral classes have steady-state infiltration capacities ranging from 1.7 cm/hr to 5.8 cm/hr and are placed into categories of low (2.3 [+-] 1.2 cm/hr), moderate (3.8 [+-] 1.9 cm/hr), and high (5.8 [+-] 0.7 cm/hr) infiltration capacity. The surface mining and reclamation process greatly increases the potential for surface runoff of mined land, making the mined site, and downstream channels, susceptible to high erosion rates. Infiltration rate controls, to a large degree, the volume of surface runoff from a surface mined watershed, and its, itself, controlled by surface physical properties. Accurate correlation of infiltration rate to surface physical properties allows SPOT data to have important potential in hydrologic forecasting of surface mined watersheds.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-84ER60263
• OSTI ID: 5571356
• Journal Information: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing; (United States), Journal Name: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing; (United States) Vol. 55:10; ISSN PERSDV; ISSN 0099-1112
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LAND RECLAMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MINING
PERMEABILITY
POLLUTION
ROCKS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SURFACE MINING
WATER POLLUTION
WATERSHEDS