Marine habitats map of "Isla del Caño", Costa Rica, comparing Quickbird and Hymap images classification results.

Isla del Caño is a marine protected area on the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, surrounded by coral reefs and coral communities. The ecology of these coral reefs has been studied for over 20 years, but they have not been mapped. Maps are considered a great research, planning, management and monitoring tool. Medium to high resolution images (HyMap 2005 and Quickbird 2007 respectively) were processed and classified in order to test and compare their accuracy in producing a marine habitat map. Manta tow surveys were performed in the field for identification of 7 marine habitats 1. Coral community; 2. Coral reef; 3. Bed rock; 4. Sand; 5. Sand with boulders; 6. Sand with rodolyths; and 7. Deep water. The overall accuracy was slightly higher using Quickbird (87%) than using Hymap (60%), however the difference was not significant. The map produced using Quickbird was selected to represent the marine habitats of Isla del Caño. This map will help to analyze the adequate size and zoning of the marine protected area.

Marine habitats map of "Isla del Caño", Costa Rica, comparing Quickbird and Hymap images classification results

Isla del Caño is a marine protected area on the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, surrounded by coral reefs and coral communities. The ecology of these coral reefs has been studied for over 20 years, but they have not been mapped. Maps are considered a great research, planning, management and monitoring tool. Medium to high resolution images (HyMap 2005 and Quickbird 2007 respectively) were processed and classified in order to test and compare their accuracy in producing a marine habitat map. Manta tow surveys were performed in the field for identification of 7 marine habitats 1. Coral community; 2. Coral reef; 3. Bed rock; 4. Sand; 5. Sand with boulders; 6. Sand with rodolyths; and 7. Deep water. The overall accuracy was slightly higher using Quickbird (87%) than using Hymap (60%), however the difference was not significant. The map produced using Quickbird was selected to represent the marine habitats of Isla del Caño. This map will help to analyze the adequate size and zoning of the marine protected area. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 373-381. Epub 2010 March 01.

Isla del Caño es un área marina protegida en la costa del Pacífico de Costa Rica y está rodeada de arrecifes coralinos. La ecología de estos arrecifes coralinos ha sido estudiada a lo largo de 20 años pero todavía no habían sido mapeados. Los mapas son considerados una buena herramienta de investigación, planificación, manejo y monitoreo. Imágenes de mediana y alta resolución (Hymap 2005 y Quickbird 2007 respectivamente) fueron procesadas y clasificadas con el fin de evaluar y comparar su desempeño en la elaboración de un mapa de hábitats marinos. En el campo se realizaron sondeos tipo Manta para la identificación de siete hábitats marinos: 1. Comunidad coralina; 2. Arrecife coralino; 3. Roca; 4. Arena; 5. Arena con cantos; 6. Arena con rodolitos; y 7. Agua profunda. La exactitud de la clasificación resultó un poco mayor usando Quickbird (87%) que Hymap (60%), sin embargo la diferencia no era significativa. Se seleccionó el mapa resultante de la clasificación con Quickbird para representar los hábitats marinos de Isla del Caño. Este mapa puede ayudar a analizar el tamaño adecuado y la zonificación del área marina protegida.

Three-dimensional concentration mapping of gases using a portable mass spectrometer system.

The visualization of hazardous gaseous emissions at volcanoes using in-situ mass spectrometry (MS) is a key step towards a better comprehension of the geophysical phenomena surrounding eruptive activity. In-situ data consisting of helium, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other gas species, were acquired with a quadrupole based MS system. Global position systems (GPS) and MS data were plotted on ground imagery, topography, and remote sensing data collected by a host of instruments during the second Costa Rica Airborne Research and Technology Applications (CARTA) mission. This combination of gas and imaging data allowed three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the volcanic plume and the mapping of gas concentration at several volcanic structures and urban areas. This combined set of data has demonstrated a better tool to assess hazardous conditions by visualizing and modeling of possible scenarios of volcanic activity. The MS system is used for in-situ measurement of 3D gas concentrations at different volcanic locations with three different transportation platforms: aircraft, auto, and hand-carried. The demonstration for urban contamination mapping is also presented as another possible use for the MS system.