Mapping and Reconstructing Wetland Surface Water Area, Snow Cover, and Vegetation Phenology in Mount Rainer National Park

Project ID: P22AC02402

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2022

Initial Funding: $19,999

Total Funding: $19,999

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Mount Rainier National Park

Principal Investigator: Moskal, Monika

Agreement Technical Representative: Lofgren, Rebecca

Abstract:

The goal of this project is to prototype methods to map and reconstruct surface water hydrology of wetlands and ponds in Mount Rainier National Park (MORA or park). Additionally, UW and NPS collaborators will focus on landcover changes within wetland basins by mapping and monitoring changes in estimates of surface water, snow cover, bare earth, and vegetation at seasonal and annual scales dependent on available cloud free imagery. This project will examine if and how these fractional estimates of land cover (wetlands, snow, vegetation, bare earth) change for each wetland basin based on different types of ecological drought (e.g., snow drought versus extreme heat drought). Methods will be developed for study areas selected by MORA staff. Improved understanding of wetland dynamics will provide better understanding of the variability and drivers of wetland response to ecological drought across the park.