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Virginia Tech

Mapping and Modeling Chlorophyll-a Concentrations in the Lake Manassas Reservoir Using Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite Imagery

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Carried out in collaboration with the Occoquan Water Monitoring Lab, this thesis presents the results of research that sought to ascertain the spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a concentrations in the Lake Manassas Reservoir using a combination of Landsat TM satellite imagery and ground based field measurements. Images acquired on May 14, 1998 and March 8, 2000 were analyzed with chlorophyll-a measurements taken on 13, 1998 and March 7, 2000. A ratio of Landsat TM band 3: Landsat Band 4 was used in a regression with data collected at eight water quality monitoring stations run by the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Lab. Correlation coefficients of 0.76 for the 1998 data and 0.73 for the 2000 data were achieved. Cross validation statistical analysis was used to check the accuracy of the two models. The standard error and error of the estimate were reasonable for the models from both years. In each instance, the ground data was retrieved approximately 24 hours before the Landsat Image acquisition and was a potential source of error. Other sources of error were the small sample size of chlorophyll-a concentration measurements, and the uncertainty involved in the location of the water quality sampling stations.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2003

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bartholomew, Paul J.
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Dymond, Randel L.
  • Wynne, Randolph H.
Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Grizzard, Thomas J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05132003-144556
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/32691

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bartholomew, Paul J.. Mapping and Modeling Chlorophyll-a Concentrations in the Lake Manassas Reservoir Using Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite Imagery. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32691