Open AccessLandsat Thermal Infrared Imagery and Western Water Management
Author(s) -
Willardson Anthony G.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of contemporary water research and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1936-704X
pISSN - 1936-7031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1936-704x.2014.03178.x
Subject(s) - human settlement , remote sensing , environmental science , evapotranspiration , water resources , satellite imagery , surface water , environmental resource management , water resource management , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental planning , geography , environmental engineering , geology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , biology
The Western States Water Council strongly supported the use of thermal infrared sensor (TIRS) data from Landsat 8 (Western States Water Council [, 2010]). TIRS is increasingly important in monitoring consumptive water uses, particularly agricultural uses. Landsat is the only operational satellite system with a spatial resolution (30m) fine enough to map water use field‐by‐field. TIRS data applications include: Administering state water rights Planning for present and future water needs Implementing interstate compacts, court decrees, and negotiated tribal settlements Mapping evapotranspiration and consumptive surface and groundwater use Protecting endangered species and estimating water use by invasive species Monitoring food supply security Forecasting commodity market fluctuations TIRS is essential to quantify beneficial consumptive use, evaluate water rights transfer requests, monitor interstate water compacts, negotiate tribal water right settlements and interstate agreements, and review water right “calls.” The Landsat data archive tracks temporal changes in water uses over decades. A permanent operational land observation program with TIRS is essential.