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Detecting the effects of hydrocarbon pollution in the Amazon forest using hyperspectral satellite images

Arellano, Paul; Tansey, Kevin; Balzter, Heiko; Boyd, Doreen S.

Authors

Paul Arellano

Kevin Tansey

Heiko Balzter

DOREEN BOYD doreen.boyd@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Earth Observation



Abstract

The global demand for fossil energy is triggering oil exploration and production projects in remote areas of the world. During the last few decades hydrocarbon production has caused pollution in the Amazon forest inflicting considerable environmental impact. Until now it is not clear how hydrocarbon pollution affects the health of the tropical forest flora. During a field campaign in polluted and pristine forest, more than 1100 leaf samples were collected and analysed for biophysical and biochemical parameters. The results revealed that tropical forests exposed to hydrocarbon pollution show reduced levels of chlorophyll content, higher levels of foliar water content and leaf structural changes. In order to map this impact over wider geographical areas, vegetation indices were applied to hyperspectral Hyperion satellite imagery. Three vegetation indices (SR, NDVI and NDVI705) were found to be the most appropriate indices to detect the effects of petroleum pollution in the Amazon forest.

Citation

Arellano, P., Tansey, K., Balzter, H., & Boyd, D. S. (2015). Detecting the effects of hydrocarbon pollution in the Amazon forest using hyperspectral satellite images. Environmental Pollution, 205, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.041

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 30, 2015
Online Publication Date Jun 12, 2015
Publication Date Oct 1, 2015
Deposit Date Jun 25, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Environmental Pollution
Print ISSN 0269-7491
Electronic ISSN 1873-6424
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 205
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.041
Keywords Petroleum pollution; Hyperspectral remote sensing; Amazon forest; Vegetation indices; Yasuni National Park
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/981658
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749115002754

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