Topographic data and satellite spectral response in subarctic high- relief terrain analysis

Abstract

Satellite images and digital elevation models were analyzed to interpret and quantify vegetation communities and active geomorphic surfaces in a mountainous area in southwest Yukon, Canada. High levels of discrimination were determined for the digital satelite and terrain data when compared to field studies and aerial photo interpretation of basic biophysical units, specific vegetation cover types and geomorphic process categories. The agreement between field identification of a site and discriminant analysis of that site using the digital data as discriminating variables ranged from 60 to 85% and contained improvements of up to 20% when topographic data such as slope angle and incidence value or aspect were added to spectral discriminant functions. -from Author