Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contribution of Open Access Global SAR Mosaics to Soil Survey Programs at Regional Level: A Case Study in North-Eastern Patagonia

  • Chapter
Geopedology

Abstract

The Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) recently released multi-temporal global SAR mosaics derived from a 4-year data acquisition project (2007–2010) of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) PALSAR, L-band at 25 m spatial resolution. These open access data sets could assist traditional soil surveys and/or digital soil mapping programs undertaken at regional and subregional scales. Through improving mapping accuracy and reducing fieldwork time, together with digital identification and classification of landscape types and geomorphic features, soil survey programs could be completed over extensive areas currently lacking reliable soil information. Argentina is a country that needs to establish operational digital soil mapping (DSM) initiatives to address challenges and potential solutions of soil surveys at detailed and semi-detailed scales. These efforts could provide useful soil information to complement or update existing soil survey data, and document methods and results. Although remote sensing has been recognized as an efficient technology to support data gathering and information generation for soil and terrain mapping, the Argentine national knowledge of how to operationalize these techniques is still incomplete. Limited research has been carried out on the potential of microwave remote sensing data for spatial estimation of different topsoil properties, excepting soil moisture. This chapter intends to narrow down this knowledge gap by assessing the potential of ALOS PALSAR image mosaics for identifying and mapping land covers, as soil cartographic base, or as a value-added layer for integration in thematic soil mapping. The chapter also analyses changes in L-band backscatter overtime, and their relation to land degradation processes. To this end, a test area covering the north-eastern Patagonia region was chosen for its diversity of geology, geomorphology, soil, and land use, as well as for the existing soil expertise and an ongoing regional soil-mapping project.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abraham EM, del Valle HF, Roig FA, Torres L, Ares JO, Coronato FR, Godagnone R (2009) An overview of the geography of the Monte Desert biome (Argentina). In: Cavagnaro JB, Villagra PE, Bertiller MB, Bisigato AJ (eds) Deserts of the World Part III: The Monte Desert – The Monte. J Arid Environ 73(2):144–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisigato AJ, Bertiller MB, Ares JO, Pazos GE (2005) Effect of grazing on plant patterns in arid ecosystems of Patagonian Monte. Ecography 28:561–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bisigato AJ, Hardtke LA, del Valle HF (2013) Soil as a capacitor: considering soil water content improves temporal models of productivity. J Arid Environ 98:88–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouza PJ, del Valle HF (2014) Propiedades y génesis de acumulaciones de carbonatos en Aridisoles del centro-este del Chubut. Capítulo VIII. In: Imbellone P (ed) Suelos con acumulaciones calcáreas y yesíferas de Argentina. INTA- AACS Editions, Buenos Aires, pp 199–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruzzone L, Wegmüller U, Wiesmann A (2004) An advanced system for the automatic classification of multitemporal SAR images. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 42:1321–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CT, Chen KS, Lee JS (2003) The use of fully polarimetric information for the fuzzy neural classification of SAR images. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 41:2089–2100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson G, Ouchi K, Saito G, Ishitsuka N, Mohri N, Uratsuka S (2002) Polarimetric classification using expectation methods. In: Polarimetric and interferometric SAR workshop, Communications Research Laboratory, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF (1998) Patagonian soils: a regional synthesis. Ecol Aust 8:103–123

    Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF (2008). Controversias y tendencias de la modelación cartográfica ambiental. In: Cantú MP, Becker AR, Bedano JC (eds) Evaluación de la sustentabilidad ambiental en sistemas agropecuarios. Editorial Fundación Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (EFUNARC), pp 89–96

    Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF, Frulla L, Gagliardini DA (1997) Segmentation of textures in ERS-1/SAR images applied to evaluate land degradation of rangelands (Central Patagonia, Argentina). International seminar on the use and applications of ERS in Latin America. ESA (European Space Agency). ESA SP-405, pp 177–184

    Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF, Buck A, Mehl H (2002) Digital elevation models as tools in soil research in northeastern Patagonia. XVIII Congreso Argentino de la Ciencia del Suelo, Puerto Madryn (Chubut), CD-ROM, 11 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF, Blanco PD, Metternicht GI, Zinck JA (2010) Radar remote sensing of wind-driven land degradation processes in northeastern Patagonia. J Environ Qual 39:62–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • del Valle HF, Hardtke LA, Blanco PD, Sione W (2013) Assessment of land degradation using Shannon Entropy approach on PolSAR images in Patagonian coastal deserts. Geofocus 13(2):84–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempster AP, Laird NM, Rubin DB (1977) Maximum likelihood from incomplete data via the EM algorithm. J R Stat Soc Ser B 39:1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Deroin JP, Djemai S, Bendaoud A, Brahmi B, Ouzegane K, Kienast JR (2014) Integrating geologic and satellite radar data for mapping dome-and-basin patterns in the In Ouzzal Terrane, Western Hoggar, Algeria. J Afr Earth Sci 99:652–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferro-Famil L, Pottier E, Lee JS (2001) Unsupervised classification of multi-frequency and fully polarimetric SAR images based on the H/A/alpha-Wishart classifier. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 39(11):2332–2342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fung AK, Chen KS (2010) Microwave scattering and emission, models for users. Artech House, Boston, 427 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • González Díaz EF, Di Tommaso I (2011) Evolución geomorfológica y cronológica relativa de los niveles aterrazados del área adyacente a la desembocadura del río Chubut al Atlántico. Rev Asoc Geol Argent 68(4):507–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardtke LA, del Valle HF, Sione W (2011) Spatial distribution of wildfire risk in the Monte biome (Patagonia, Argentina). J Maps 2011:588–599. doi:10.4113/jom.2011.1184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris I, Jones PD, Osborn TJ, Lister DH (2014) Updated high-resolution grids of monthly climatic observations – the CRU TS3.10 Dataset. Int J Climatol 34(3):623–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson FM, Lewis AJ (1998) Radar fundamentals: the geoscience perspective. In: Ryerson RA (ed) Principles & applications of imaging radar, vol 2, 3rd edn, Manual of remote sensing. Wiley, New York, pp 131–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Ince T (2010) Unsupervised classification of polarimetric SAR image with dynamic clustering: an image processing approach. Adv Eng Softw 41:636–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working Group WRB (2014) World reference base for soil resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World soil resources reports no. 106. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandaswamy U, Adjeroh DA, Lee MC (2005) Efficient texture analysis of SAR image. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 43(9):2075–2083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kux HJH, Henebry G (1994) Multi-scale texture in SAR imagery: landscape dynamics of the Pantanal, Brazil. Geoscience and remote sensing symposium 1994. IGARSS ‘94. Surface and atmospheric remote sensing: technologies, data analysis and interpretation, vol 2, pp 1069–1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagacherie P, McBratney AB, Voltz M (2007) Digital soil mapping: an introductory perspective, 1st edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • León RJC, Bran D, Collantes M, Paruelo JM, Soriano A (1998) Grandes unidades de vegetación de la Patagonia extrandina. Ecol Aust 8:275–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin N, Ben-Dor E, Kidron GJ, Yaakov Y (2008) Estimation of surface roughness (Zo) over a stabilizing coastal dune field based on vegetation and topography. Earth Surf Process Landf 33:1520–1541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Skidmore AK, Osten HV (2002) Integration of classification methods for improvement of land-cover map accuracy. ISPRS J Photogramm Remote Sens 56:257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBratney AB, Mendonça Santos ML, Minasny B (2003) On digital soil mapping. Geoderma 117(1–2):3–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder VL (2013) Spectroscopy-supported digital soil mapping. Wageningen University, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder VL, de Bruin S, Schaepman ME, Mayr TR (2011) The use of remote sensing in soil and terrain mapping: a review. Geoderma 162:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paillou P, Lopez S, Farr T, Rosenqvist A (2010) Mapping subsurface geology in Sahara using L-band SAR: first results from the ALOS/PALSAR Imaging Radar. IEEE J Sel Top Earth Obs Remote Sens 3(4):632–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peake WH, Oliver TL (1971) The response of terrestrial surfaces at microwaves frequencies. Technical report 2770-7. Ohio State University, Columbus

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos V (1999) Las provincias geológicas del territorio argentino. In: SEGEMAR (ed) Geología Argentina. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales, Buenos Aires. Anales 29:341–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridley J, Strawbridge F, Card R, Phillips H (1996) Radar backscatter characteristics of a desert surface. Remote Sens Environ 57:63–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenqvist A, Shimada M, Ito N, Watanabe M (2007) ALOS PALSAR: a pathfinder mission for global-scale monitoring of the environment. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 45:3307–3316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAGyP-INTA (1990) Atlas de Suelos de la República Argentina. Proyecto PNUD Arg-85/019, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha SK (2011) Microwave remote sensing in soil quality assessment. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spat Inf Sci XXXVIII-8/W20:34–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada M, Isoguchi O, Tadono T, Isono K (2009) PALSAR radiometric and geometric calibration. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 47(2):3915–3932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada M, Tadono T, Rosenqvist A (2010) Advanced land observing satellite (ALOS) and monitoring global environmental change. Proc IEEE 98(5):780–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada M, Itoh T, Motooka T, Watanabe M, Shiraishi T, Thapa R, Lucas R (2014) New global forest/non-forest maps from ALOS PALSAR data (2007–2010). Remote Sens Environ 155:13–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MW (2014) Roughness in the Earth Sciences. Earth Sci Rev 136(2014):202–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Súnico A, Bouza PJ, del Valle HF (1996) Erosion of subsurface horizons in northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 10:359–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tromp-van Meerveld HJ, McDonnell JJ (2006) Threshold relations in subsurface stormflow: 1. A 147-storm analysis of the Panola hillslope. Water Resour Res 42:W02410. doi:10.1029/2004WR003778

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulaby FT, Long DG (2014) Microwave radar and radiometric remote sensing. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Villagra P, Defosse G, del Valle H, Tabeni S, Rostagno C, Cesca E, Abraham E (2009) Land use and disturbance effects on the dynamics of natural ecosystems of the Monte Desert: implications for their management. J Arid Environ 73:202–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZZ, Yong JH (2008) Texture analysis and classification with linear regression model base on wavelet transform. IEEE Trans Image Process 17(8):1421–1430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zribi M, Baghdadi N, Nolin M (2011) Remote sensing of soil. Appl Environ Soil Sci 2011, Article ID 904561, 2 p, doi:10.1155/2011/904561

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This research was carried out within the framework of the forthcoming SAOCOM mission, supported by the National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE) jointly with the Department of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation (MINCyT) from Argentina. The SAOCOM project was established for the definition and development of L-band SAR products oriented towards applications for risk and emergency management. This work was also partially supported by CONICET (PIP-11220080101238 and PIP-11220110100220).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT), Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    H. F. Del Valle, P. D. Blanco, L. A. Hardtke, P. J. Bouza, A. Bisigato & C. M. Rostagno

  2. Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    G. Metternicht

Authors
  1. H. F. Del Valle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. D. Blanco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. A. Hardtke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Metternicht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. J. Bouza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Bisigato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C. M. Rostagno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. F. Del Valle .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Joseph Alfred Zinck

  2. Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Joseph Alfred Zinck  & Graciela Metternicht  & 

  3. Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental (CIGA), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Gerardo Bocco

  4. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT), Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Héctor Francisco Del Valle

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Del Valle, H.F. et al. (2016). Contribution of Open Access Global SAR Mosaics to Soil Survey Programs at Regional Level: A Case Study in North-Eastern Patagonia. In: Zinck, J.A., Metternicht, G., Bocco, G., Del Valle, H.F. (eds) Geopedology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19159-1_19

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation