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Satellite Remote Sensing of Lake Ice Meltout Patterns Near Barrow, Alaska

Winston, Barry S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980832

Abstract Details

2010, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Geography.
The Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska is covered with thousands of lakes developed atop continuous permafrost. Lake ice meltout patterns near Barrow were evaluated across the historical record using available cloud-free Landsat imagery. An Iterative Self-Organizing Data clustering algorithm was used to differentiate ice from water during meltout, and was overlain on lake boundary vectors to calculate the percentage of ice covering each lake in the ~11,000 km2 study area near Barrow. This processing technique was carried out for seven available scenes in early July across the ~35-year Landsat record. Analysis of these scenes reveals that lakes exhibit interannual variability in the general timing of lake ice meltout. A consistent regional spatial pattern is apparent in all years, with a general decrease in the percentage of ice coverage on lakes further south reflecting the regional climatic pattern. The ice cover on many lakes near the coast persists for a longer period due to the influence of onshore winds and cooler temperatures, possibly enhanced by coastal fog. Some lakes consistently experience earlier or delayed meltout compared to lakes nearby owing to lake-specific factors that may include lake depth, basin geometry, or water salinity. This study illustrates the utility of satellite-derived lake ice observations as a regional climatic indicator.
Kenneth Hinkel, PhD (Committee Chair)
Richard Beck, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert Frohn, PhD (Committee Member)
54 p.
Geography
Alaska; lakes; lake ice; remote sensing; NDWI; permafrost

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Winston, B. S. (2010). Satellite Remote Sensing of Lake Ice Meltout Patterns Near Barrow, Alaska [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980832

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Winston, Barry. Satellite Remote Sensing of Lake Ice Meltout Patterns Near Barrow, Alaska. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980832.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Winston, Barry. "Satellite Remote Sensing of Lake Ice Meltout Patterns Near Barrow, Alaska." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980832

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1276980832
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.