Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T18:32:28.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Radar imaging of winter seismic survey activity in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

Benjamin M. Jones ,
Russell Rykhus ,
Zhong Lu ,
Christopher D. Arp  and
David J. Selkowitz
Benjamin M. Jones
Affiliation:
Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Russell Rykhus
Affiliation:
SAIC, Contractor for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), U.S. Geological Survey, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Zhong Lu
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Vancouver, Washington, USA
Christopher D. Arp
Affiliation:
Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
David J. Selkowitz
Affiliation:
Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

During the spring of 2006, Radarsat-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery was acquired on a continual basis for the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (TLSA), in the northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPR-A) in order to monitor lake ice melting processes. During data processing, it was discovered that the Radarsat-1 imagery detected features associated with winter seismic survey activity. Focused analysis of the image time series revealed various aspects of the exploration process such as the grid profile associated with the seismic line surveys as well as trails and campsites associated with the mobile survey crews. Due to the high temporal resolution of the dataset it was possible to track the progress of activities over a one month period. Spaceborne SAR imagery can provide information on the location of winter seismic activity and could be used as a monitoring tool for land and resource managers as increased petroleum-based activity occurs in the TLSA and NPR-A.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 44 , Issue 3 , July 2008 , pp. 227 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bird, K.J., and Houseknecht, D.W.. 2002. U.S. Geological Survey 2002 petroleum resource assessment of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA). Reston, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey (Fact sheet 045-02) URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs045-02/ (accessed December, 2006).Google Scholar
Bollinger, K.S., and Derksen, D.V.. 1996. Demographic characteristics of molting black brant near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Journal of Field Ornithology 67: 141–158.Google Scholar
DOE (U.S. Department of Energy). 1999. Environmental benefits of advanced oil and gas exploration and production technology. Washington DC: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy (DOE-FE-0385).Google Scholar
Felix, N.A., and Raynolds, M.K.. 1989. The effects of winter seismic trails on tundra vegetation in northeastern Alsaka, USA. Arctic and Aipine Research 21 (2): 188–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, D.K. 1998. Remote sensing of snow and ice using imaging radar. In: Henderson, F.M., and Lewis, A.J.. Manual of remote sensing. Vol. 2. New York: A.J. Wiley: 677–703.Google Scholar
Kelleyhouse, R.A. 2001. Calving ground habitat selection: Teshekpuk Lake and western Arctic caribou herds. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska.Google Scholar
Lee, J.S. 1986. Speckle suppression and analysis for synthetic aperture radar images. Optical Engineering 25 (5): 636–643.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massom, R. 1991. Satellite remote sensing of polar regions: applications, limitations and data availability. London: Belhaven Press.Google Scholar
National Research Council. 2003. Cumulative environmental effects of oil and gas activities on Alaska's North Slope. Washington DC: The National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Raynolds, M.K., and Felix, N.A.. 1989. Airphoto analysis of winter seismic disturbance in northeastern Alaska. Arctic 42 (4): 362–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ulaby, F.T., Moore, R.K., and Fung, A.K.. 1986. Microwave remote sensing: active and passive. Boston, MA: Artech House.Google Scholar
Werner, C., Wegmuller, U., Strozzi, T., and Wiesmann, A.. 2000. Gamma SAR and Interferometric SAR processing software. Gothenburg, Sweden (Proceedings of Envisat Symposium 2000).Google Scholar