Department of Physics and Physical
Oceanography Student PHY 495 Seminar
“Research in airborne remote
sensing: heat flux in giant kelp
forests on the santa barbara coast”
Runyon Colie Woods
Physics Major, UNC Wilmington
Remote sensing is defined as the small or large-scale acquisition of information of
an object or phenomenon by the use of either recording or real-time sensing
devices that are not in physical contact with the object. Through NASA’s Student
Airborne Research Program (SARP), multiple research flights were flown using
the MASTER (MODIS/ASTER) sensor aboard NASA’s DC-8 mobile laboratory
to collect remote sensing data from Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp) forests along
the Santa Barbara coast. Acquisition of high-resolution data with these instruments
provides new insight into kelp forest dynamics. Results will be presented from
data captured in long wave infrared bands. Specifically, I will show Giant Kelp
has a noticeable heat signature above the ambient sea surface temperature.
Discussion will focus on what this temperature difference may mean to coastal
marine ecosystems.
Friday, April 27, 2012
2:00 PM
DeLoach Hall, Room 212