P1.76
Cloud statistics over agricultural and mixed forest areas
Valentine Anantharaj, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; and U. S. Nair, D. Berendes, S. Asefi, and J. G. Fairman
The Southern Bottomlands across the alluvial flood plains in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, along the Mississippi River, have been gradually converted to agricultural and other anthropogenic use. This region, referred to as the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV, with fertile alluvial soil is characterized by intense agriculture. The distinct difference in landscape can be readily seen in satellite imagery due to the different vegetation and soil types. The differential surface temperatures are also evident in near IR imagery on clear days during spring. The main purpose of this research is to attempt to relate the current land use and land cover information to surface temperature patterns and trends and as well as via satellite-derived cloud statistics from recent years. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) data, for a time period spanning 1999-2006 are being used to analyze cloudiness patterns over the LMAV. Cloudiness analysis is focused on convective clouds, since this cloud type is the most affected by the nature of land use. Preliminary analysis of GOES-12 data indicate distinctly different cloud statistics under certain circumstances in the LMAV when compared to surrounding regions of mixed forest and wooded lands.
Poster Session 1, Fifth GOES Users' Confererence Poster Session
Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Exhibit Hall B
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