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ABSTRACT:
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Diver visibility analyses and predictions, and water
transparency in general, are of significant military and commercial interest.
This is especially true in our current state, where ports and harbors are
vulnerable to terrorist attacks from a variety of platforms both on and below
the water (swimmers, divers, AUV�s, ships,
submarines, etc.). Aircraft hyperspectral imagery
has been previously used successfully to classify coastal bottom types and
map bathymetry and it is time to transition this observational tool to harbor
and port security. Hyperspectral imagery is ideally
suited for monitoring small-scale features and processes in these optically
complex waters, because of its enhanced spectral (1-3 nm) and spatial (1-3
meters) resolutions. Under an existing NOAA project (CICORE), a field
experiment was carried out (November 2004) in coordination with airborne hyperspectral ocean color overflights
to develop methods and models for relating hyperspectral
remote sensing reflectances to water transparency
and diver visibility in San Pedro and San Diego Bays. These bays were focused
areas because: (1) San Pedro harbor, with it's ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach, is the busiest port in the U.S. and ranks 3rd in the world and (2) San
Diego Harbor is one of the largest Naval ports, serving a diverse mix of
commercial, recreational and military traffic, including more than 190 cruise
ships annual. Maintaining harbor and port security has added complexity for
these Southern California bays, because of
the close proximity to the Mexican border. We will present in situ optical
data and hyperspectral aircraft ocean color imagery
from these two bays and compare and contrast the differences and
similarities. This preliminary data will then be used to discuss how water
transparency and diver visibility predictions improve harbor and port
security.
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