Black Butte

(Two) Remotely Sensed Images
of Black Butte, California

November 1997

Remote sensing refers to obtaining information about an object without coming into physical contact with it. It is an interesting field of study because there are so many ways to go about getting the desired data. First of all, the data can be obtained from different platforms, such as airplanes, helicopters, satellites, and even hot air balloons or kites! This is referred to as multistage. The data can also be obtained from different altitudes. Satellites and spacecraft would necessarily be at a higher altitude above the Earth than, say, a helicopter or kite. The ability to obtain data at different altitudes is called multilevel. One of the most important aspect of remote sensing is that the data is multispectral; that is, different portions of the spectrum can be utilized in obtaining the data. The several devices available can record ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, and microwaves.

November 22, 1997

I was so excited about the day's forthcoming events that I woke up before the dawn. Some clouds stretched across portions of the sky, but not so many that it would matter. And best of all, not a breeze was stirring. The few clouds between Mount Shasta and Black Butte became pink with the morning sun. By the time the pink had worn away, more clouds had joined them. Still, the ceiling was above 14,000 feet as all of Shasta was visible. Then the fog started to roll in from the north. The peak of Shasta disappeared behind the clouds. Breezes began to sway the pines, the breezes turned to gusts and then things began to clear up. Some of the clouds disappeared. The wind wasn't too bad. So I drove the 45 minutes to Montague and as I left Weed behind, the wind stopped altogether. You never can tell what the weather will be like here in November. Extratropical cyclones and high pressure systems dance around the world at our latititude during the wintertime.

We lifted off at noon and headed south across the Shasta Valley (32K). The hills from the debris-flow off of ancient Mount Shasta, which I had so often seen from the ground, lay below me, making it so much clearer that this is what really could have happened. I wasn't quite convinced before, even though I had read about it from those who know best. That must have been one big mountain!

As we flew over the hills between Lake Shastina and Parks Creek, the wind picked up and the helicopter became like a ride at Carnivale. By the time we reached the Weed Airport we had to turn around and head back. The pilot said the wind got like this right before a storm. At the Siskiyou County Airport, all was calm again, with a slight breeze from the north.

As soon as I knew we were heading back, I shot the rest of the pictures in the digital camera. It was a good experience, for I learned that the low oblique images turned out the best. Next weekend, I'll aim low when we head for Black Butte once again.

Tonight it's pouring rain and the snow level is expected to drop to 5,000 feet tomorrow. Maybe the storm will be over by Friday and we'll be left with a nice, high pressure system.

P.S. It has either been rainy, foggy, windy, or snowy (or some combination thereof) and so I have been unable to obtain any more images of Black Butte from the air. Visit this site again after the winter rains are over (in May or thereabouts) and I will hopefully have some images for you to see!