scholarly journals Expanding understanding of optical variability in Lake Superior with a four-year dataset

Author(s):  
Colleen B. Mouw ◽  
Audrey B. Ciochetto ◽  
Brice Grunert ◽  
Angela Yu

Abstract. Lake Superior is one of the largest freshwater lakes on our planet, but few optical observations have been made to allow for development and validation of visible spectral satellite remote sensing products. The dataset described here focuses on coincidently observing inherent and apparent optical properties along with biogeochemical parameters. Specifically, we observe remote sensing reflectance, absorption, scattering, backscattering, attenuation, chlorophyll concentration, and suspended particulate matter over the ice-free months of 2013–2016. The dataset substantially increases the optical knowledge of the lake. In addition to visible spectral satellite algorithm development, the dataset is valuable for characterizing the variable light field, particle, phytoplankton, and colored dissolved organic matter distributions, and helpful in food web and carbon cycle investigations, among others. The compiled data can be freely accessed at: https://seabass.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/URI/Mouw/LakeSuperior/.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen B. Mouw ◽  
Audrey B. Ciochetto ◽  
Brice Grunert ◽  
Angela Yu

Abstract. Lake Superior is one of the largest freshwater lakes on our planet, but few optical observations have been made to allow for the development and validation of visible spectral satellite remote sensing products. The dataset described here focuses on coincidently observing inherent and apparent optical properties along with biogeochemical parameters. Specifically, we observe remote sensing reflectance, absorption, scattering, backscattering, attenuation, chlorophyll concentration, and suspended particulate matter over the ice-free months of 2013–2016. The dataset substantially increases the optical knowledge of the lake. In addition to visible spectral satellite algorithm development, the dataset is valuable for characterizing the variable light field, particle, phytoplankton, and colored dissolved organic matter distributions, and helpful in food web and carbon cycle investigations. The compiled data can be freely accessed at https://seabass.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/URI/Mouw/LakeSuperior/.


Author(s):  
Y. B. Feng ◽  
Y. Q. He ◽  
Q. H. Fu ◽  
C. Q. Liu ◽  
H. Z. Pan ◽  
...  

Due to the way that remote sensing works, it has natural advantage to detect optical constituents in waters. And many kinds of inversion models were constructed based on the three main optical constituents, namely chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), suspended particulate matter (SPM), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Except Chl-a used as an indicator of eutrophication, however, the public generally cares less about other two parameters and is more familiar with Grade I&amp;thinsp;~&amp;thinsp;V scheme for utilization and protection purposes. Notice the three main optical constituents are also organic-related to some extent. It offers a possible way to estimate COD<sub>Mn</sub> via remote sensing. According to field measurement conducted along the Guangzhou section of Pearl River (GPR for short), the spatial variation of COD<sub>Mn</sub> in GPR shows some kinds of geographical feature, so does the correlation between COD<sub>Mn</sub> and water color constituents. It indicated the complicated contribution of COD<sub>Mn</sub> in GPR or some other urban rivers. Based on the band setting of GF-1 satellite, two kinds of inversion model of COD<sub>Mn</sub> in GPR were finally constructed. One directly achieved COD<sub>Mn</sub> from regression models of which predictors were different band combinations in different channels of GPR. To make the study more practical, the other one first provided empirical models of the three optical constituents, and then estimated COD<sub>Mn</sub> of GPR based on its relationship with optical constituents. After all, Chl-a, SPM and CDOM could be distinguished optically, and remote sensing models of these three constituents in other studies may also be available.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Sarangi

An oceanic eddy of size about 150 kilometer diameter observed in the northeastern Arabian Sea using remote sensing satellite sensors; IRS-P4 OCM, NOAA-AVHRR and NASA Quickscat Scatterometer data. The eddy was detected in the 2nd week of February in Indian Remote Sensing satellite (IRS-P4) Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) sensor retrieved chlorophyll image on 10th February 2002, between latitude 16°90′–18°50′N and longitude 66°05′–67°60′E. The chlorophyll concentration was higher in the central part of eddy (~1.5 mg/m3) than the peripheral water (~0.8 mg/m3). The eddy lasted till 10th March 2002. NOAA-AVHRR sea surface temperature (SST) images generated during 15th February-15th March 2002. The SST in the eddy’s center (~23°C) was lesser than the surrounding water (~24.5°C). The eddy was of cold core type with the warmer water in periphery. Quickscat Scatterometer retrieved wind speed was 8–10 m/sec. The eddy movement observed southeast to southwest direction and might helped in churning. The eddy seemed evident due to convective processes in water column. The processes like detrainment and entrainment play role in bringing up the cooler water and the bottom nutrient to surface and hence the algal blooming. This type of cold core/anti-cyclonic eddy is likely to occur during late winter/spring as a result of the prevailing climatic conditions.


Ocean Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gohin

Abstract. Sea surface temperature, chlorophyll, and turbidity are three variables of the coastal environment commonly measured by monitoring networks. The observation networks are often based on coastal stations, which do not provide a sufficient coverage to validate the model outputs or to be used in assimilation over the continental shelf. Conversely, the products derived from satellite reflectance generally show a decreasing quality shoreward, and an assessment of the limitation of these data is required. The annual cycle, mean, and percentile 90 of the chlorophyll concentration derived from MERIS/ESA and MODIS/NASA data processed with a dedicated algorithm have been compared to in-situ observations at twenty-six selected stations from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea. Keeping in mind the validation, the forcing, or the assimilation in hydrological, sediment-transport, or ecological models, the non-algal Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is also a parameter which is expected from the satellite imagery. However, the monitoring networks measure essentially the turbidity and a consistency between chlorophyll, representative of the phytoplankton biomass, non-algal SPM, and turbidity is required. In this study, we derive the satellite turbidity from chlorophyll and non-algal SPM with a common formula applied to in-situ or satellite observations. The distribution of the satellite-derived turbidity exhibits the same main statistical characteristics as those measured in-situ, which satisfies the first condition to monitor the long-term changes or the large-scale spatial variation over the continental shelf and along the shore. For the first time, climatologies of turbidity, so useful for mapping the environment of the benthic habitats, are proposed from space on areas as different as the southern North Sea or the western Mediterranean Sea, with validation at coastal stations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Bold ◽  
Justus E.E. van Beusekom ◽  
Yoana G. Voynova ◽  
Marius Cysewski ◽  
Bryce Van Dam ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Estuaries are crucial in transforming matter fluxes from land to sea. To better understand and quantify these processes and respective fluxes, it is important to determine the input into an estuary accurately. To allow for such studies in the Elbe estuary in Germany, a state-of-the-art research platform is currently being set-up just upstream of the weir in Geesthacht at the entrance of the estuary. Here, we report on small-scale spatial dynamics of organic matter and associated processes from several cross and longitudinal profiles around the planned location and the implications for the set-up of the aforementioned research platform.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Based on preliminary data obtained in August 2020 during a period of relatively low discharge, we present the following results: (1) In three cross profiles along a 10 km transect of the Elbe upstream of the weir, we observed considerable small-scale gradients regarding currents and various biogeochemical parameters. In comparison to the fairway, water from the riverbanks was depleted in suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate, and enhanced in ammonium, phosphate and silicate, as well as total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon paralleled by decreasing pH. This suggests that in the summer, organic matter is deposited and remineralised at the riverbanks, resulting in the release of ammonium, phosphate and silicate, and in the removal of nitrate, presumably by denitrification. (2) Along the 10 km transect towards the weir, we observed that concentrations of suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and pH were decreasing. In contrast, we found that ammonium, phosphate and silicate, total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon increased towards the weir. This suggests an increased sedimentation and subsequent remineralisation due to the reduced flow velocities in front of the weir. (3) An analysis of a 10-year time series from the weir supports this by showing higher ammonium concentrations when discharges were relatively low. The implications of these findings for the set-up of the research platform in this area, as well as for optimising estimates of budgets are discussed. The research platform will contribute to understand further such variations in biogeochemical parameters at the entrance of the Elbe estuary over time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The research platform is set-up in cooperation with the Helmholtz initiative MOSES (&amp;#8220;Modular Observation Solutions for Earth Systems&amp;#8220;) and will be incorporated in the Elbe-North Sea Supersite of DANUBIUS-RI (&amp;#8220;International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems&amp;#8220;). Funding is provided by European Regional Development Funds, the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, the Helmholtz Association and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. The research platform, planned to be operational in autumn 2021, will also be open for users e.g. to develop and test new methods and technologies. Data will be made available through the &amp;#8220;Helmholtz Coastal Data Centre&amp;#8221; (HCDC).&lt;/p&gt;


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Bretagnon ◽  
Séverine Alvain ◽  
Astrid Bracher ◽  
Philippe Garnesson ◽  
Svetlana losa ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Copernicus marine environment monitoring service (CMEMS) gives users access to a wide range of ocean descriptors. Both physics and biogeochemistry of the marine environment can be studied with complementary source of data, such as in situ data, modelling output and satellite observations at global scale and/or for European marginal seas. Among the ocean descriptors supplied as part of CMEMS, phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) describe the phytoplanktonic composition at global level or over European marginal seas. Studied phytoplankton assemblage is particularly important as it is the basis of the marine food-web. Composition of the first trophic level is a valuable indicator to infer the structure of the ecosystem and its health. Over the last decades, ocean colour remote sensing has been used to estimate the phytoplanktonic composition. The algorithms developed to estimate PFTs composition based on ocean colour observation can be classified in three categories: the spectral approaches, the abundance-based approaches (derived from the chlorophyll concentration) and the ecological approaches. The three approaches can lead to differences or, conversely, to similar patterns. Difference and similarity in PFTs estimation from remote sensing is a useful information for data assimilation or model simulation, as it provides indications on the uncertainties/variability associated to the PFT estimates. Indeed, PFT estimates from satellite observations are increasingly assimilated into ecological models to improve biogeochemical simulations, what highlights the importance to get an index or at least information describing the validity range of such PFTs estimates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this study, four algorithms (two abundance-based, and two spectral approaches) are compared. The aim of this study is to compare the related PFT products spatially and temporally, and to study the agreement of their derived PFT phenology. This study proposes also to compare PFT algorithms developed for the global ocean with those developed for specific regions in order to assess the potential strength and weakness of the different approaches. Once similarities and discrepancies between the different approaches are assessed, this information could be used by model to give an interval of confidence in model simulation.&lt;/p&gt;


2021 ◽  
pp. 4-10
Author(s):  
Vladimir P. Budak ◽  
Julian B. Aizenberg

For centuries, light has been produced to enable the human visual system to operate but, today, light is being used for an increasing number of non-visual, technical purposes. Examples include plant growth, remote sensing, electricity generation, and communication. This paper discusses the theoretical foundation of such technical applications of light and shows that it is completely identical to the fundamentals of lighting. The foundation is the theory of the light field, which is generated by the interaction of the radiation field with a quadratic (energy) receiver. Within its range of applicability, the theory of the light field is complete and closed. As a result, the light field provides a unified theoretical base for lighting systems and the technical application of light. This creates the basis for combining them into a single section of science and technology, which will ensure their effective development and application.


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