Inland Wetland Change Detection in the Everglades Water Conservation Area 2A Using a Time Series of Normalized Remotely Sensed Data

Recent and historical satellite remote sensor data were used to inventory aquatic macrophyte (especially cattail and sawgrass) changes within the Florida Everglades Water Conservation Arae 2A using Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data (1973, 1976, and 1982) and SPOT High Resolution Visible (HRV) multispectral data (1987 and 1991). The method required a single base year of remotely sensed data with adequate ground reference information (1991). Histological remotely sensed data were normalized to the base year's radiometric characteristics. Statistical clusters extracted from each date of imagery were found in relatively consistent regions of multispectral feature space (using red and near-infrared bandes) and labeled using a core cluster approach. Wetland classification maps of each year were analyzed using post-classification comparison change detection technique to produce maps of (1) cattail change and (2) change in the sawgrass/cattail mixture class. The amount of hectares in each wetland class was tabulated by year. The spatial distribution of the wetland was then overlaid onto a soil porewater phosphorus statistical surface obtained through in situ investigation. The cattail and cattail/sawgrass mixture classes appear to be spatially associated with distribution of relatively high concentrations of porewater phosphorus in Water Conservation Area 2A