Airborne thermal infrared remote sensing of summer water temperature in the Middle Fork John Day River (Oregon) in 1994-2003

This data release combines seven airborne thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing data sets of stream temperature collected along the mainstem of the Middle Fork John Day River (MFJD) in Oregon from 1994 to 2003. Years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2002 have single datasets. Year 2003 has two data sets. Most of the TIR data covered the upstream half of the MFJD mainstem between river km 50 and 110, while the 2002 profile covers the lower half starting at the confluence of the MFJD with the North Fork John Day River through river kilometer 64. All TIR data sets were collected by helicopter in an upstream direction in August with the intent of capturing data at or near the maximum summer daily stream temperature. Ground-truthing and calibration of the TIR remote sensing surveys were conducted with continuous in-stream temperature loggers deployed longitudinally throughout the survey area. TIR imagery of the main stem and tributary junctions was processed, sampled, and summarized in "temperature profiles" that extend longitudinally along the mainstem MFJD for each data set and are composed of individual temperature observations along that longitudinal transect.