The first image is a Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) digital satellite image of Onslow Bay, North Carolina (includes New Hanover County) acquired in February 1996. The second image is the land cover classification derived from the TM satellite image. Using a variety of techniques and tools, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) image analyst was able to interpret the TM image and classify it into 15 land cover classes. The resulting land cover classification served as the foundation for assessing the impacts of Hurricanes Bertha and Fran to the Onslow Bay region during the 1996 hurricane season. 

 
Figure 4.24. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) digital satellite image of Onslow Bay, North Carolina

Figure 4.25. The land cover classification derived from the TM satellite image

Using change detection techniques, it is possible to estimate the amount of land cover change caused by Hurricanes Bertha and Fran.  A TM satellite image from October 1996 (post-hurricane) was compared to a February 1996 (pre-hurricane) satellite image.  In the image below, the non-gray areas indicate land cover changes that occurred between February and October of 1996.  Some of the changes could be attributed to the two hurricanes that impacted these areas during that time frame.  To learn more about hurricane effects on land cover change,  these areas could be targeted for more site-specific analysis using either high resolution aerial photography or site surveys.

Figure 4.26. Land cover changes are indicated by non-gray areas.