Inspection of the images - Continued
|  | Satellite image (Band4_00) of Ngorongoro, 25 October 2000 | |
False colour image
6) Open Band4_00 and enhance it using the Interactive stretching described above.
Band4 is from the near infrared part of the spectrum. It is invisible to the human eye. It is very valuable in Earth observation because the chlorophyll in green plants reflects this part of the spectrum very well. Vegetation land cover looks very white in this image.
Compare the Band4 image to the Band3 image.
Try to find light areas in Band4 to pinpoint green vegetation cover.
7) To make a colour image, choose Image/Combine from.../(Red Green Blue). Now select Band4 for the Red Band, Band3 for the Green Band and Band2 for the Blue Band.
Save the image with the name NGO432_00.
Vegetation
We will first use the false colour image from 25 October 2000 to investigate and describe the vegetation cover.
The next step will be to construct and investigate a new false colour image from 14 February 2001.
8) Use the false colour image to describe the vegetation cover in the area.
Find clouds.
Find the lake.
Which areas are covered with vegetation?
Describe the bottom of the crater.
Find rivers going down into the crater.
Describe the vegetation near the rivers and small lakes.
Why is the water salty in Lake Magadi, the crater lake?
Click here to see a photo. The photos are from September 2000 or 2001.
9) Use the North-South profile you constructed above. Indicate the vegetation cover on the profile using colours and signatures of your choice.
10) Try to describe and explain the distribution of the vegetation cover in the area:
The forest cover on the slopes of the Nogorongoro crater.
The general dryness of the crater floor.
The areas in the crater with vegetation.
Compare the vegetation cover with the information on climate given above.
Give a brief description of the consequences of the vegetation cover for the living conditions of the wild animals in the NCA.
Give a brief description of the consequences of the vegetation cover for the living conditions of the human beings living in the NCA.
To inspect the area under different climate conditions, we will now inspect Landsat images taken about four months later, on 14 February 2001:
Band1_01
Band2_01
Band3_01
Band4_01
Band5_01
Band7_01
11) Using LEOWorks, first construct a natural colour image and then a false colour image. Save the images using the names:
NGO321_01
NGO432_01
Compare the images of February with the images of October.
Describe the differences in details.
Why is the crater floor now covered with vegetation?
What are the consequences for the animals and the human beings living in and around the NCA?
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