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Supervised Classification Of An Arid Groundwater Flow System
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 14th EEGS Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, Mar 2001, cp-192-00013
Abstract
This investigation addresses the hydrogeology of the White Sands National Monument (WSNM)<br>to determine the characteristics of an arid groundwater flow system using remote sensing methods. A<br>supervised classification using Landsat-7 data sets were used to identify the different terrains leading to<br>a better understanding of the White Sands, where depth to water table is closer in areas with lower<br>elevations and resulting in wetter or moister regions. Results showed that the ancient Lake Otero floor<br>has been carved deeper and deeper in the western margin of the White Sands area by water and wind<br>since the Pleistocene. The Alkali Flat is now exposing the ancient deposits of the Lake Otero floor. The<br>entire White Sands Dune Field today is increasing in size as the Alkali Flats and Lake Lucero shrink due<br>to dryer conditions as time goes on. The active dune field is growing on top of the ancient Lake Otero<br>floor to the east. Groundwater flow is to the west and discharges in the hydraulic sink of Lake Lucero, a<br>highly saline playa ephemeral lake.