During 2008/09 the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) undertook a project to use computer analysis techniques to detect change at Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) from satellite imagery.
The project outcomes will assist with monitoring and managing this World Heritage listed subantarctic island group, which is located over 4000 kilometres south-west of Western Australia.
Why was the project undertaken?
The AAD is responsible for managing the HIMI Territory and the HIMI Marine Reserve. It does so in accordance with the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2005.
The management plan recognises the high costs and logistical constraints on access to HIMI, as well as the risk of visitors introducing non-native species, and promotes the use of remote techniques to monitor environmental change and to present the islands' World Heritage values.
Of course some types of research, monitoring and management activities might require on-site visits but remote monitoring, where practical, will help maintain the islands' virtually undisturbed state. Knowing what has changed before a research team travels the two weeks by ship will also provide for safer and more effective expedition planning.
What did the project involve?
Cloud-free satellite images (or a mosaic of several images) were compared to develop a digital representation of changes in visible features, such as the coastline, glaciers, lagoons, large wildlife colonies and vegetation.
The warming climate in the region has contributed to the retreat of Heard Island's glaciers, exposing large areas of bare ground for colonisation by flora and fauna, and forming fresh water lagoons.