I have decided to examine how primary production is affected by hurricane events using remote sensing imagery from data feed from satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). In my research project, I will address the following in the illustrated order:
Background:
1. A brief introduction on the significance of marine primary production and its implications on global climate change and intensifying storm events.
2. Then I will briefly review the geographic and climatic conditions of the Gulf of Mexico and its significance as a tropical coastline.
Literature review (brief) and introduction to the study:
3. I will review related significant researches conducted in the past on marine primary production, disturbance ecology, hurricanes, and briefly on remote sensing.
4. At this point I shall state the purpose and scope of the study: to examine the effects of hurricanes on primary production at the Gulf of Mexico from an overall production rate point of view using remote sensing imagery. The study subject is chlorophyll a (ocean color) captured from satellite sensors on MODIS. As it is nearly impossible to obtain good data during storm events (due to cloud cover), I will explain that my study model involves a before-and-after storm ocean color comparison.
5. - H0=Hurricanes have no effect on marine primary production at the Gulf of Mexico.
- Ha=Hurricanes increase marine primary production at the Gulf of Mexico
Methodology:
6. The research intends to analyze data gathered from NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), chiefly from the satellite feed from MODIS, using 4km2 parcel size, 1-day, 3-day composites, and 1 week composites.
7. Using remote sensing processing technology, the Hierachical Data Format (HDF) files will be overlaid and the differences of chlorophyll a content calculated.
8. I will then compare the differences of values gathered continuously 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after the hurricane event and statistically analyze their variation using paired T-test. This statistical outcome will be tested for significance with p=0.05.
9. The after-storm statistic will be compared with the before-storm values and also the mean values of comparable climatic conditions for the past 3 years (constraint: MODIS data goes back to 2002 only). This will determine whether the difference of primary production was due to the hurricane event.
10. *This will be replicated for multiple storm events to increase statistical confidence if time permits.