Evaluating the Seasonal Changes of Freshwater Grasses in Susquehanna Flats Through the Use of High Spatial Resolution Images From PlanetScope
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Susquehanna Flats is a large, shallow mud flat located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Maryland. During the summer, it is covered in dense populations of freshwater grasses, such as wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia). This makes it a popular destination for fishermen and tourists. Using high-resolution commercial satellites from PlanetScope with 3-meter spatial resolution, we have mapped the grass distribution and density on a monthly scale for the years 2021 to 2023. Our study reveals that the grasses on the flats experience a significant wintertime die-off, with aerial coverage reducing from approximately 50 km² in August to 6 km² in December. We estimate that the potential carbon export from the flats during the die-off is 3 Gg of carbon per year.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Victoria Hill
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Oceanography (OEAS)
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Oceanography | Plant Biology
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Start Date
3-25-2023 8:30 AM
End Date
3-25-2023 10:00 AM
Evaluating the Seasonal Changes of Freshwater Grasses in Susquehanna Flats Through the Use of High Spatial Resolution Images From PlanetScope
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Susquehanna Flats is a large, shallow mud flat located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Maryland. During the summer, it is covered in dense populations of freshwater grasses, such as wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia). This makes it a popular destination for fishermen and tourists. Using high-resolution commercial satellites from PlanetScope with 3-meter spatial resolution, we have mapped the grass distribution and density on a monthly scale for the years 2021 to 2023. Our study reveals that the grasses on the flats experience a significant wintertime die-off, with aerial coverage reducing from approximately 50 km² in August to 6 km² in December. We estimate that the potential carbon export from the flats during the die-off is 3 Gg of carbon per year.