A technique for improved assessment of flow resistance characteristics of natural wetlands using Landsat data

In the past, one value of the roughness coefficient has frequently been used to represent the flow resistance characteristics of the entire natural wetland throughout the year. To improve the simulation of water flow through these natural vegetation communities, Landsat imagery and in situ flow measurements could be combined to produce a more detailed representation of flow resistance. The vegetation in a typical marshland drainage basin in south Florida was classified into five major categories using Landsat data. Flow measurements were then performed at characteristic sites in the basin. The measurements were taken at various depths during months of significant flow to examine the effect of seasonal growth. This information can be compared with the areal extent of the vegetation measured by satellite to more accurately simulate resistance to water flow in natural marshland drainage basins.