Co-Director, MTRI, Michigan Tech Research Institute

Abstract

Multi-spectral, visible spectrum based remote sensing algorithms are a
proven useful technique to measure physical and chemical properties of
lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Remote sensing techniques can observe
the physical and chemical properties of the upper water column, or in
clear water provide bathymetric or bottom type information. When the
water column is optically opaque the observed remote sensing signal is a
result of color producing agents (CPAs) in the water, and in the case of
the Great Lakes is a function of the concentrations of Chlorophyll,
dissolved organic carbon and suspended minerals. In optically
transparent water (i.e. the bottom is visible) the water depth can be
determined by utilizing knowledge of the attenuation coefficient. To map
the underwater substrate, techniques have been developed to normalize
the attenuation of light with increasing depth so that classification of
the lake or river bottom can be performed.

In situ optical observations of the water column along with
simultaneous chemical and physical property provide valuable information
necessary to bound the information obtainable from the remotely sensed
water data as well as tune the algorithms. MTRI works closely with
scientists from GLERL, UFI and Michigan Tech to obtain these data.

MTRI has funded programs that address quantification of CPAs observed
values in the Great Lakes, bathymetric mapping of North Slope lakes in
Alaska, and mapping of Cladophora on the bottom of the Great Lakes.
These programs use Landsat, MODIS and commercial satellite data with
spatial resolutions that vary from a meter to 1 km.

The seminar will provide an overview of the theory and limitations of
optical remote sensing of water properties. Updates on the ongoing MTRI
investigations that utilize these techniques will also be presented.

HOST: CHARLES KERFOOT

SEMINAR SPONSORS:

EPSSI – Earth Planetary Space Sciences Institute

Department of Biological Sciences