Beginner’s guide to understanding, accessing, and retrieving Coastwide Reference Monitoring System data
No abstract available.
Louisiana↗
Geology topics
Dona Weifenbach
Publications and source records attributed to Dona Weifenbach.
Aboveground and belowground vegetation biomass and nutrients
Wetland biomass production, decomposition, and storage of organic matter govern estuarine energy transfer, in addition to determining the physical sustainability of marshes exposed to sea-level rise and subsidence. Peak standing biomass represents an indicator of wetland production or productivity but does not account for turnover (production and decomposition) of different pools of biomass with time. Understanding the nutrient status of plant biomass can be particularly helpful in diagnosing what constituents may be limiting wetland production. The biomass and nutrient measures described in the following field/laboratory data collection procedures are designed to provide the raw data to support predictive ecosystem models, as well as answer basic wetland process questions that will help inform restoration decisions. The following procedures outline the field and laboratory methods to collect vegetation biomass and other plant or soil characteristics as needed for the SWAMP. The sampling design incorporates expanded collection from predefined target plant species that typically occur within selected CRMS stations. CPRA will provide instructions regarding any data collection adjustments that may deviate from the general steps provided herein.
Louisiana↗
Imagery
As part of CRMS, Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs) for the coastal region of Louisiana are created for years when coastwide land-water classifications are required. A DOQQ is a raster image in which displacement in the image caused by sensor orientation and terrain relief has been corrected. These images combine the image characteristics of a photo with the geometric qualities of a map. The DOQQs generated for this project consist of four components or spectral bands of information: blue, green, red and very-near infrared (VNIR). These images are referred to as Color Infrared (CIR) digital imagery. CRMS site-level assessments of land-water coverage will be based off of color-infrared photography acquired for coastal Louisiana and clipped to each 1-km2 CRMS-Wetlands site. Unless otherwise noted as a specific preliminary condition, all vegetation such as scrub-shrub, emergent vegetation, and forested areas will fall under the land classification, while open water, non-vegetated, regularly flooded mud flats, and aquatic vegetation beds will be characterized as water. CRMS imagery contracts are managed and issued by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Louisiana↗