Weekly high-resolution multi-spectral and thermal uncrewed-aerial-system mapping of an alpine catchment during summer snowmelt, Niwot Ridge, Colorado

Wigmore, Oliver; Molotch, Noah P.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1733-2023

Articles | Volume 15, issue 4

https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1733-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1733-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 15, issue 4

Data description paper

|

18 Apr 2023

Data description paper |

| 18 Apr 2023

Weekly high-resolution multi-spectral and thermal uncrewed-aerial-system mapping of an alpine catchment during summer snowmelt, Niwot Ridge, Colorado

Oliver Wigmore and Noah P. Molotch

Data sets

Uncalibrated RGB orthomosaic imagery from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017. ver 1 O. Wigmore https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/073a5a67ddba08ba3a24fe85c5154da7

Calibrated red/near infrared orthomosaic imagery from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017. ver 1 O. Wigmore https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/dadd5c2e4a65c781c2371643f7ff9dc4

5cm multispectral imagery from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017 ver 1 O. Wigmore and Niwot Ridge LTER https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/a4f57c82ad274aa2640e0a79649290ca

25cm NDVI data from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge Saddle Catchment, 2017 ver 1 O. Wigmore and Niwot Ridge LTER https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/444a7923deebc4b660436e76ffa3130c

Surface temperature mapped from thermal infrared survey from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017. ver 2 O. Wigmore and Niwot Ridge LTER https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/70518d55a8d6ec95f04f2d8a0920b7b8

Photogrammetric point cloud and DSM from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017. ver 2. O. Wigmore and Niwot Ridge LTER https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1289b3b41a46284d2a1c42f1b08b3807

Video supplement

Drones over Niwot Oliver Wigmore https://youtu.be/5FxboPSCbW4

Video abstract

Drones over Niwot Oliver Wigmore https://youtu.be/5FxboPSCbW4

Short summary

We flew a custom-built drone fitted with visible, near-infrared and thermal cameras every week over a summer season at Niwot Ridge in Colorado's alpine tundra. We processed these images into seamless orthomosaics that record changes in snow cover, vegetation health and the movement of water over the land surface. These novel datasets provide a unique centimetre resolution snapshot of ecohydrologic processes, connectivity and spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the alpine zone.