Satellite spectral property observations in chilean lakes

Abstract

Northern Chilean Patagonia has numerous pristine lakes associated with Nothofagus and Araucaria araucana forests. The present study looks at optical properties in visible, close, and medium infrared wavelengths in mountain lakes located in Huerquehue National Park. These lakes have associated Nothofagus and Araucaria araucana native forests with glacial origin. The satellite results revealed high reflectance values in Los Patos Lagoon to B5, B6, and B7 Landsat-8 satellite bands. This lagoon is the most ephemeral pool located within A. araucana forest, whereas Tinquilco Lake has B5, B6, and B7 low reflectance values, which would be due to the presence of Nothofagus forest and probable human intervention in its surrounding basin. Whereas Angelica, Del Sacrificio, Chico, Los Condores, Las Mercedes, Olvidada, Toro, and San Manuel lagoons have low B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7 reflectance values, which would be because of the presence of native forest in their surrounding basin, and that all of these ecosystems are permanent. These differences, in spite of the oligotrophy, would be associated with surrounding vegetation and geological characteristics of studied sites.