Work

An estuarine-tuned quasi-analytical algorithm (QAA-V): assessment and application to satellite estimates of SPM in Galveston Bay following Hurricane Harvey

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: . The standard quasi-analytical algorithm (Lee et al., 2002) was tuned as QAA-V using a suite of synthetic data and in-situ measurements to improve its performance in optically complex and shallow estuarine waters. Two modifications were applied to the standard QAA: 1) a semi-analytical relationship for obtaining remote sensing reflectance just below water-surface as a function of absorption and backscattering coefficients was updated using Hydrolight® simulations, and 2) an empirical model of the total non-water absorption coefficient was proposed using a ratio of the green (Rrs551) to red (Rrs671) bands of VIIRS sensor, which is known to work well in various inland and estuarine environments. The QAA-V derived total absorption and backscattering coefficients, which were evaluated in a variety of waters ranging from the highly absorbing and turbid to relatively clear shelf waters, showed satisfactory performance on Hydrolight®-simulated synthetic dataset (R2 > 0.87, MRE 0.70, MRE 0.90, MRE

Source: Biogeosciences

DOI: 10.5194/bg-15-4065-2018

Authors: Ishan D. Joshi, Eurico J. D'Sa

Institution: Louisiana State University

Language: English

Topic: Marine and coastal ecosystems

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,628

Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey

Award: HURRICANE HARVEY MADE LANDFALL NEAR ROCKPORT TEXAS ON AUGUST 25 2017 AS A STRONG CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE. THE SYSTEM THEN MEANDERED OVER EASTERN TEXAS WITH THE REGION RECEIVING BETWEEN 40-52 INCHES OF RAIN RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE FLOODING. FOLLOWING A SECOND LANDFALL NEAR THE TEXAS-LOUISIANA BORDER THE ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION HAS RESULTED IN WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED AS A 500-YEAR FLOOD EVENT FOR THE REGION. THE ACCUMULATED FLOODWATERS AND CONTROLLED RELEASE FROM THE MANY RESERVOIRS IN THE REGION IS EXPECTED TO EVENTUALLY DRAIN INTO GALVESTON BAY. THE IMPACT OF DISCHARGING FLOODWATERS ON GALVESTON BAY COULD THUS ADVERSELY AFFECT THE WATER QUALITY AND THE ECOSYSTEM DUE TO POLLUTANT INFLUX AS WELL AS ALTERING ITS BIO-OPTICAL STATE DUE TO CHANGES IN BIOGEOCHEMISTRY (PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER AND DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER) NECESSITATING URGENT FIELD AND OCEAN COLOR STUDIES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED WORK ARE: 1) TO ACQUIRE A BASIC SUITE OF BIOGEOCHEMICAL AND BIO-OPTICAL DATA IN GALVESTON BAY FOLLOWING HURRICANE HARVEY FLOODING IN THE NEAR-TERM AND 2) USE FIELD DATA TO ASSESS/OPTIMIZE VIIRS OCEAN COLOR ESTIMATES OF BIOGEOCHEMICAL/WATER QUALITY VARIABLES (E.G. CDOM/DOC SPM AND CHLOROPHYLL-A) TO ENABLE A MORE REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF BIOGEOCHEMICAL CHANGES USING OCEAN COLOR IN AN OPTICALLY COMPLEX ESTUARY. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH DIRECTLY RESPONDS TO A.29 RAPID RESPONSE AND RESEARCH IN EARTH SCIENCE SPECIFICALLY THEME 2.1 RAPID RESPONSE TO EARTH SYSTEM EVENTS RELATED TO CARBON CYCLE&ECOSYSTEMS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS OF HIGH SIGNIFICANCE AS IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ONE OF THE FIRST BIO-OPTICAL STUDIES IN A LARGE ESTUARY ASSOCIATED WITH A 500-YEAR FLOOD EVENT.

OpenAlex ID: W2796478303

FWCI: 2.352

Cites: 76

Cited by: 36

Related to: 10