Muster, Sina; Langer, Moritz; Heim, Birgit; Westermann, Sebastian; Boike, Julia (2012): Landsat subpixel water cover of Lena River Delta, Siberia, with link to ESRI grid files [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.786926,

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In supplement to: Muster, S et al. (2012): Subpixel heterogeneity of ice-wedge polygonal tundra: a multi-scale analysis of land cover and evapotranspiration in the Lena River Delta, Siberia. Tellus Series B-Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 64, 17301, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v64i0.17301

Landsat data for Samoylov Island (Lena Delta, Siberia) was classified using a k-means unsupervised algorithm in the ENVI 4.7 software. Unsupervised classifications are based solely on the natural groupings within the image, i.e. the spectral properties of the surface, and as such return classes containing spectrally similar pixels. The resulting satellite spectral classification was compared with the aerial land cover classification in order to assess the fine-scale land cover variability within each satellite pixel and k-means class. Classification of was performed with 15 clusters and 15 iterations. The 15 clusters were reduced to 9 groups by merging clusters with little pixel count into spectrally adjacent classes. k-means classification of Landsat pixels is determined by the proportions of open water and dry tundra within each pixel. Class 1 is a water class. Classes 2-9 are characterized by a gradual decrease in open water and an increase in dry tundra.

The entire Lena Delta was then classified using an atmospherically corrected Landsat mosaic (Schneider et al., 2009, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2008.10.013). Schneider et al. (2009) identified nine land cover classes for the Lena Delta, five of which are present in the ice-wedge polygonal tundra on Samoylov Island. We therefore performed classification for these five classes only, which together make up 70% of the total land area in the Lena Delta. The Landsat mosaic consists of three images with a resolution of 30 m, acquired on July 27, 2000 (featuring Samoylov Island), and July 26, 2001. Bands 1-5 and band 7 were used for classification covering a spectral range in the VNIR and short-wave infrared (SWIR) from 450 to 2350 nm.

Some 13% of the delta's land surface (not including rivers and coastal areas) has been estimated from Landsat data to be occupied by water bodies (Schneider et al. 2009). Including the subpixel-scale land/water fraction, the water surface area increases to 20%.

Data is available as raster (ESRI bil). Data includes an ArcGIS layer file showing the mean ratio of open water per pixel and class. Class 10 (Lena river and coastal zones) was not included in the original classification of the Delta, but was added to the dataset for better visual aid.

"Other version" links to an overview image in jpg-format.