Visualization of Lake Mead Surface Area Changes from 1972 to？2009 英文参考文献.docVIP

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2012, 1, 108-119; doi:10.3390/ijgi1020108 OPEN ACCESS ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ISSN 2220-9964 /journal/ijgi/ Article Visualization of Lake Mead Surface Area Changes from 1972 to 2009 K. Wayne Forsythe 1,*, Barbara Schatz 2, Stephen J. Swales 1, Lisa-Jen Ferrato 1 and David M. Atkinson 1 1 Department of Geography, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada; E-Mails: sswales@geography.ryerson.ca (S.J.S.); lferrato@ryerson.ca (L.-J.F.); datkinson@geography.ryerson.ca (D.M.A.) 2 Institut für Geographie, Universit?t Bamberg, Am Kranen 12, D-96045 Bamberg, Germany; E-Mail: babsi.schatz@web.de * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: forsythe@geography.ryerson.ca; Tel.: +1-416-979-5000 (ext. 7141); Fax: +1-416-979-5362. Received: 15 May 2012; in revised form: 02 June 2012 / Accepted: 15 June 2012 / Published: 26 June 2012 Abstract: For most of the last decade, the south-western portion of the United States has experienced a severe and enduring drought. This has caused serious concerns about water supply and management in the region. In this research, 30 orthorectified Landsat satellite images from the United States Geological Service (USGS) Earth Explorer archive were analyzed for the 1972 to 2009 period. The images encompassed Lake Mead (a major reservoir in this region) and were examined for changes in water surface area. Decadal lake area minimums/maximums were achieved in 1972/1979, 1981/1988, 1991/1998, and 2009/2000. The minimum lake area extent occurred in 2009 (356.4 km2), while the maximum occurred in 1998 (590.6 km2). Variable trends in water level and lake area were observed throughout the analysis period, however progressively lower values were observed since 2000. The Landsat derived lake areas show a very strong relationship with actual measured water levels at the Hoover Dam. Yearly wate