Environmental Analysis of the Upper Susitna River Basin using Landsat Imagery

• Main Authors: Gatto, Lawrence W., Merry, Carolyn J., McKim, Harlan L., Lawson, Daniel E.
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: Cartography and Aerial Photography; Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS; *BASINS(GEOGRAPHIC); *MAPPING; SURFACES; DRAINAGE; RIVERS; LAKES; GLACIERS; PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES; PHOTOINTERPRETATION; PHOTOGEOLOGY; FAULTS(GEOLOGY); SNOWFIELDS; MATERIALS; ALASKA; *SUSITNA RIVER; LINEAMENTS; EARTH SURFACE; LANDSAT SATELLITES; Eros; glaciers; Ice; permafrost; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA084900; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA084900

The primary objectives of this study were to 1) prepare a map from Landsat imagery of the Upper Susitna River Basin drainage network, lakes, glaciers and snowfields, 2) identify possible faults and lineaments within the upper basin and within a 100-km radius of the proposed Devil Canyon and Watana dam sites as observed on Landsat imagery, and 3) prepare a Landsat-derived map showing the distribution of surficial geologic materials and poorly drained areas. The EROS Digital Image Enhancement System (EDIES) provided computer- enhanced images of Landsat-1 scene 5470-19560. The EDIES false color composite of this scene was used as the base for mapping drainage network, lakes, glaciers and snowfields, six surficial geologic materials units and poorly drained areas. We used some single-band and other color composites of Landsat images during interpretation. All the above maps were prepared by photointerpretation of Landsat images without using computer analysis, aerial photographs, field data, or published reports. These other data sources were used only after the mapping was completed to compare and verify the information interpreted and delineations mapped from the Landsat images. Four Landsat-1 MSS band 7 winter scenes were used in the photomosaic prepared for the lineament mapping. We mapped only those lineaments related to reported regional tectonics, although there were many more lineaments evident on the Landsat photomosaic. Orginal contains color plates: All DTIC and NTIS reproductions will be in black and white.