High-Spatial- and -Temporal-Resolution Sargassum AFAI Coastal Dataset for Guadeloupe, Martinique and Yucatán
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Recurrent massive strandings of pelagic Sargassum have severely impacted Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coastlines over the past decade, generating major environmental, sanitary, and socioeconomic consequences. Accurate monitoring of Sargassum dynamics in nearshore waters remains challenging, as most existing satellite products rely on moderate-resolution sensors that inadequately resolve coastal processes. Here, we present a high-spatial- and -temporal-resolution Sargassum detection dataset derived from the VENµS (Vegetation and Environment New Micro-Satellite) mission, providing daily observations at 4 m resolution for five coastal zones in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the Yucatán Peninsula over the 2022–2024 period. VENµS imagery consists of 12 multispectral bands, and the analysis specifically uses the red, the red-edge/near-infrared and the short-wave infrared bands. Detection is based on the Alternative Floating Algae Index (AFAI), combined with land and cloud masking, background estimation, and adaptive thresholding. We demonstrate the capability of this dataset to resolve fine-scale Sargassum raft dynamics, characterize the seasonal influx of Sargassum along the coastline, and assess exposure across different coastal typologies. By offering the highest combined spatial and temporal resolution currently available for these regions, this dataset provides a novel resource for coastal impact assessment, nearshore drift analysis, and validation of Sargassum transport and stranding models.
Source: Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.3390/rs18040624
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7129515298