A general analytical framework was established to investigate the scale-related variabilities in remote
sensing. The variabilities were studied first by investigating canopy structure, canopy interaction with
light, relation between spectral reflectance and plant phenological parameters. The variabilities
simulated by the plant model were compared with the actual spectral data acquired...
Remote sensing offers the potential for monitoring photosynthesis over large temporal and spatial scales. The purpose of this thesis is to provide information that
will help to develop methods to predict photosynthesis from the light reflected by
canopies. The studies focused on a simple model of canopy photosynthetic potential:
Acanopy...
Wave breaking in the surf zone is an important forcing
mechanism on the generation of nearshore currents and in the driving
of sediment transport. At the same time, wave breaking can have
significant spatial and temporal variability that needs to be
accounted for in the description of nearshore processes. Remote...
This work investigates a methodology for estimating the ocean stratification gradient based on high-resolution, in space and time, remote sensing observations of internal wave propagation speeds. The internal wave speed observations were collected using a shore-based, X-band marine radar and the ocean vertical density profiles were collected simultaneously from an...
One fundamental concern in conservation biology is species abundance. For many taxa, however, these data are costly to obtain via direct observation and thus limited in geographic or temporal scope. Very high-resolution satellite imagery provides a means to address these limitations and provide remotely-sensed counts of large, colonial species. We...
The North Unit irrigation District of Central Oregon,
a water project developed under the guidelines of the
Bureau of Reclamation, is characterized by limited water
and the need for efficient utilization and control of the
irrigation system. To manage the limited water resource,
irrigators need a timely and economical method...
Irrigation is essential for profitable agriculture in the western
United States. It is the largest consumer of water and power in
Oregon. Conflicting uses of water and power and their scarcity demands
judicious planning for allocation of these resources. Creditable
baseline data are not only needed for irrigated crop acreages,...
This dissertation focuses on two core aspects of remote sensing: (a) interpretation of the remotely sensed data to identify and characterize sea surface features of interest, and (b) the quantitative analysis of previously characterized features to produce robust estimates of geophysical variables. Specifically, these aspects are addressed in the context...
Landslides are an insidious natural hazard, which can result in significant damage to public infrastructure. Limited monitoring tools are available, particularly tools suitable for use in forested environments. These tools often only allow a few locations across the slide to be monitored. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) shows promise as a...
This study sought to explore the relationship between spatial scale and canopy
chemistry through the use of remotely sensed videography data and total nitrogen content
of potato petioles. A range of broad band spectral indices were employed along with
standard red and green wavelengths to define an optimum scale or...
