Airborne video cameras equipped with narrow-band filters were used to assess chlorophyll-a concentration in flood control reservoirs of the Little Washita River Watershed in central Oklahoma. This study utilizes airborne video cameras equipped with narrow IO-nm band filters centered at the critical wavelengths to assess chlorophyll-a concentration. The video cameras were calibrated using a series of panels and a hand-held spectroradiometer to convert digital numbers into radiance values (mu W/cm(2)/sr). This was then processed into reflectance values by the incorporation of solar irradiance data. Results indicate that the relationship between emergent radiance and chlorophyll concentration is best described by the model y = a(0)(1 - e(-x/c)), and that the ability to estimate chlorophyll-a concentration in reservoirs using airborne video imagery has a great deal of potential.

ABSTRACT Airborne video cameras equipped with narrow band filters were used to assess chlorophyll-a concentration in flood retention reservoirs of the Little Washita River watershed in Oklahoma. The video data was analyzed in three steps: raw data, data after calibration, and reflectance data. Results indicate that airborne video imaging of reservoirs has a great deal of potential and may have far-reaching effects in lake management strategies.

Airborne video cameras equipped with narrow band filters were used in an attempt to assess chlorophyll-a concentration in flood retention reservoirs of the Little Washita River watershed in Oklahoma. The video data was first processed by converting digital numbers into radiance values (uW/cm(2)/sr) and then by incorporation of irradiance values in determining reflectance. Results indicate that the ability to approximate chlorophyll-a concentration in the reservoirs improves with each step in the processing process.