Title: Application of thermal remote sensing to delineate groundwater discharge zones

Authors: Olga Barron, Tom G. Van Niel

Addresses: CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia. ' CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia

Abstract: The paper explores whether thermal anomalies at the surface identified by remote sensing allow for the delineation of groundwater discharge zones. The methodology is based on the principle that in shallow groundwater systems, upward fluxes of deep groundwater discharge reduces seasonal temperature variation in layers close to and at the surface. Thermal anomalies were identified by Landsat data and compared between two winter images separated by 11 years during which a large drainage scheme was implemented. Though there were a number of limiting factors defined, the approach proved useful for identifying groundwater discharge zones at the study site.

Keywords: satellite images; flux; thermal anomalies; salinity; Western Australia; thermal remote sensing; groundwater discharge; seasonal temperature variation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2009.028721

International Journal of Water, 2009 Vol.5 No.2, pp.109 - 124

Published online: 25 Sep 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article