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Western Geographic Science Center images.
Aerial map of modeling area in the Nisqually River Delta. Managed freshwater marsh at the southern end of the refuge is excluded. Inset: Black point on terrain map shows the location of Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge within Washington State (grey outline).
Aerial map of modeling area in the Nisqually River Delta. Managed freshwater marsh at the southern end of the refuge is excluded. Inset: Black point on terrain map shows the location of Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge within Washington State (grey outline).
Density of oil and gas well pads per km2 in the Colorado Plateau ecoregion (including parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) as counted in 2016. Oil/gas wells are particularly concentrated in this region with ~100,000 abandoned and current wells spanning 60 years of activity. These numbers are dramatically increasing with time.
Density of oil and gas well pads per km2 in the Colorado Plateau ecoregion (including parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) as counted in 2016. Oil/gas wells are particularly concentrated in this region with ~100,000 abandoned and current wells spanning 60 years of activity. These numbers are dramatically increasing with time.
An active oil and gas well pad and an abandoned pad being reclaimed (top left inset).
An active oil and gas well pad and an abandoned pad being reclaimed (top left inset).
The tidal forests of the Nisqually River Delta become inundated to just below the trunk during the highest tides of the year.
The tidal forests of the Nisqually River Delta become inundated to just below the trunk during the highest tides of the year.
Engergy pads in an arid enverionment
Invasives index values before and after turbine construction compared to surrounding control areas (top). Green indicates turbines with higher index values in the period after construction, and yellow indicates no change or lower invasive index values after construction.
Invasives index values before and after turbine construction compared to surrounding control areas (top). Green indicates turbines with higher index values in the period after construction, and yellow indicates no change or lower invasive index values after construction.
Sampling approach for remote measurements of invasives around wind turbines.
Sampling approach for remote measurements of invasives around wind turbines.
Information from satellite imagery helped to differentiate areas vulnerable to soil erosion from off-highway vehicle use. For this study we developed a “P-factor” by scaling ground measurements of soil compaction to vehicle disturbances mapped from aerial imagery.
Information from satellite imagery helped to differentiate areas vulnerable to soil erosion from off-highway vehicle use. For this study we developed a “P-factor” by scaling ground measurements of soil compaction to vehicle disturbances mapped from aerial imagery.
Location map of the Colorado Plateau ecoregion; ecoregion detail (A) with individual well sites identified by a black dot; Google Earth Pro aerial photography showing the footprint of oil and gas development at the landscape scale as small light colored patches (B); Google Earth Pro close-up of well pads and roads (C).
Location map of the Colorado Plateau ecoregion; ecoregion detail (A) with individual well sites identified by a black dot; Google Earth Pro aerial photography showing the footprint of oil and gas development at the landscape scale as small light colored patches (B); Google Earth Pro close-up of well pads and roads (C).
Graph showing A) Landsat time series of the Soil-Adjusted Total Vegetation Index (SATVI) from 1984-2011.
Graph showing A) Landsat time series of the Soil-Adjusted Total Vegetation Index (SATVI) from 1984-2011.
Distressed desert
The Sonoran Desert of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona.
The Sonoran Desert of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona.
Disturbed desert landscape with erosion
Disturbed desert landscape with erosion
Field crew collecting validation information for remote sensing products.
Field crew collecting validation information for remote sensing products.
Desert Landscape
distressed desert of the Sonoran Desert, carousal image
distressed desert of the Sonoran Desert, carousal image
Field crew measuring cover of Lehmann Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Boer Lovegrass (E. curvula var. conferta = E. chloromelas) in a desert grassland of southern Arizona.
Field crew measuring cover of Lehmann Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Boer Lovegrass (E. curvula var. conferta = E. chloromelas) in a desert grassland of southern Arizona.
Disturbed desert landscape
Desert landscape
Aerial view of a desert landscape
Aerial view of a desert landscape
Collecting biocrust cover data to train and verify the UAS image classifications.
Collecting biocrust cover data to train and verify the UAS image classifications.