Evaluation of cyanobacteria bioenergy: a potential resource in Antarctica detected by Multi/Hyper-spectral satellite Image.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "Evaluation of cyanobacteria bioenergy: a potential resource in Antarctica detected by Multi/Hyper-spectral satellite Image", published as final paper in "International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology Research
Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2016, pp. 1-11, ISSN: 2325 - 3924 (Online) 

 http://www.ijretr.org/IJRETR_Vol.%205,%20No.%203,%20June%202016/Evaluation.pdf"

Micheli C, Belmonte A, Pignatelli A, De Cecco L., Piermattei V., Marcelli M., Borfecchia F. Evaluation of cyanobacteria bioenergy: a potential resource in Antarctica detected by Multi/Hyper-spectral satellite Image (2016). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2016, pp. 1-11, ISSN: 2325 - 3924 (Available online at http://ijretr.org)

This paper focuses on the natural conservation aspect of bioenergy conversion by polar cyanobacteria; they could represent a key requirement in the implementation of alternative renewable sources, since they have many advantages for fuel-level energy storage, particularly in polar habitat. We propose an innovative method for evaluating the potential bioenergy resource already existing in Antarctica, discovering cyanobacteria patches by remote sensing technique. Cyanobacteria, which are considered potential precursors of liquid fuel and are alternative of bioenergy conversion, were collected in Antarctica during austral summer 2003. At the same time, in situ the microbial mat was identified by polar sensors (Hyperion, ALI and Lansat ETM+) having spectral/spatial resolution, which are able to detect photosynthetic pigments that change in these populations not available elsewhere and suitable for their effective change assessment capabilities. According to physiological, morphological and genetic features of collected samples, two groups of cyanobacteria (included in Nostocales and Oscillatoriales orders) were identified and, simultaneously mapped at three Antarctic stations Terranova Bay, Enigma Lake and Icaro in relation to pigment spectral responses to hyperspectral signatures. At the beginning of the 3rd era, the emergent need for an energetic biomass at an international level is highlighted using careful site selection and application of appropriate methods. Thus, in our results the technology links the perspective of knowledge of biomass as energy budget in the Antarctic ecosystem, together with the monitoring of integrated analyses of whole ecosystems from space.