Figure 13. SPOT satellite image, Atchafalaya Bay, LA. Suspended sediment from runoff is 

 clearly visible. Data processed by the Earthscan Laboratory, School of 

 Geosciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 



mid-infrared bands and a resolution of 120 m in one thermal infrared band 

 (10.4-12.5 n). 



SPOT is a commercial satellite program. The first satellite, which was 

 sponsored primarily by the French government, was launched in 1986. The 

 SPOT-1 satellite has two identical sensors known as HRV (high-resolution- 

 visible) imaging systems. Each HRV can function in a 10-m resolution 

 panchromatic mode with one wide visible band, or a 20-m-resolution multi- 

 spectral (visible and near infrared) mode with three bands (Figure 13). 



24 



Chapter 2 Secondary Sources of Coastal Information 



