Potential uses of multi-sensor image for analyzing environmental characteristics on tidal flat

Abstract

Tidal flats, which are a mixture of seawater and fresh water environments, have economic, social, and ecological value as habitats for a diverse range of living organisms, as costal protection against storms, and as buffer zones for seawater from land-based pollutants (Brooks et al., 2006 Kirwan and Murray, 2007). However, tidal flats have been significantly restructured and damaged by human activities on a large scale and are threatened by a rise in sea level (Kirwan et aI., 2010 Ryu et al., 2004). Living organisms such as halophytes and benthos have their own distinct habitats. Each species inhabits a location with unique temperature and salinity conditions according to the level of the ebb/flood tide. Topographic conditions such as the tidal flat elevation, slope angle, and the existence of channels also influence the habitat of each species. The water content of surface sediments and the amount of remnant water, which are determined by theduration of exposwe to the atmosphere, also affect the environments inhabited by different species. The sedimentary facies, which differ according to the tidal wetness, determine the locations of living organisms. The texture and reflectance of channels in tidal flats can be analyzed by using an optical sensor with high spatial resolution. The sedimentary facies, which differ according to the tidal wetness, determine the locations of living organisms.r from land-based pollutants (Brooks et al., 2006 Kirwan and Murray, 2007). However, tidal flats have been significantly restructured and damaged by human activities on a large scale and are threatened by a rise in sea level (Kirwan et aI., 2010 Ryu et al., 2004). Living organisms such as halophytes and benthos have their own distinct habitats. Each species inhabits a location with unique temperature and salinity conditions according to the level of the ebb/flood tide. Topographic conditions such as the tidal flat elevation, slope angle, and the existence of channels also influence the habitat of each species. The water content of surface sediments and the amount of remnant water, which are determined by theduration of exposwe to the atmosphere, also affect the environments inhabited by different species. The sedimentary facies, which differ according to the tidal wetness, determine the locations of living organisms. The texture and reflectance of channels in tidal flats can be analyzed by using an optical sensor with high spatial resolution. The sedimentary facies, which differ according to the tidal wetness, determine the locations of living organisms.