TY - JOUR
T1 - Remote Sensing of Particle Backscattering in Chesapeake Bay: A 6-year SeaWiFS Retrospective View
AU - Zawada, David G.
AU - Hu, Chuanmin
AU - Clayton, Tonya
AU - Chen, Zhiqiang
AU - Brock, John C.
AU - Muller-Karger, Frank E.
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Traditional field techniques to monitor water quality in large estuaries , such as boat-based surveys and autonomous moored sensors, generally provide limited spatial coverage. Satellite imagery potentially can be used to address both of these limitations. Here, we show that satellite-based observations are useful for inferring total-suspended-solids (TSS) concentrations in estuarine areas. A spectra-matching optimization algorithm was used to estimate the particle backscattering coefficient at 400 nm, b bp (400), in Chesapeake Bay from Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite imagery. These estimated values of b bp (400) were compared to in situ measurements of TSS for the study period of September 1997–December 2003. Contemporaneous SeaWiFS b bp (400) values and TSS concentrations were positively correlated ( N = 340, r 2 = 0.4, P < 0.0005), and the satellite-derived b bp (400) values served as a reasonable first-order approximation for synoptically mapping TSS. Overall, large-scale patterns of SeaWiFS b bp (400) appeared to be consistent with expectations based on field observations and historical reports of TSS. Monthly averages indicated that SeaWiFS b bp (400) was typically largest in winter (>0.049 m −1 , November–February) and smallest in summer (<0.031 m −1 , June–August), regardless of the amount of riverine discharge to the bay. The study period also included Hurricanes Floyd and Isabel, which caused large-scale turbidity events and changes in the water quality of the bay. These results demonstrate that this technique can provide frequent synoptic assessments of suspended solids concentrations in Chesapeake Bay and other coastal regions.
AB - Traditional field techniques to monitor water quality in large estuaries , such as boat-based surveys and autonomous moored sensors, generally provide limited spatial coverage. Satellite imagery potentially can be used to address both of these limitations. Here, we show that satellite-based observations are useful for inferring total-suspended-solids (TSS) concentrations in estuarine areas. A spectra-matching optimization algorithm was used to estimate the particle backscattering coefficient at 400 nm, b bp (400), in Chesapeake Bay from Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite imagery. These estimated values of b bp (400) were compared to in situ measurements of TSS for the study period of September 1997–December 2003. Contemporaneous SeaWiFS b bp (400) values and TSS concentrations were positively correlated ( N = 340, r 2 = 0.4, P < 0.0005), and the satellite-derived b bp (400) values served as a reasonable first-order approximation for synoptically mapping TSS. Overall, large-scale patterns of SeaWiFS b bp (400) appeared to be consistent with expectations based on field observations and historical reports of TSS. Monthly averages indicated that SeaWiFS b bp (400) was typically largest in winter (>0.049 m −1 , November–February) and smallest in summer (<0.031 m −1 , June–August), regardless of the amount of riverine discharge to the bay. The study period also included Hurricanes Floyd and Isabel, which caused large-scale turbidity events and changes in the water quality of the bay. These results demonstrate that this technique can provide frequent synoptic assessments of suspended solids concentrations in Chesapeake Bay and other coastal regions.
KW - water quality
KW - remote sensing
KW - light backscattering
KW - suspended particulate matter
KW - ocean color
KW - SeaWiFS
KW - Chesapeake Bay
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2023
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.005
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1106
UR - http://10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.005
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.005
M3 - Article
VL - 73
JO - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
JF - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
ER -