Analysis of remote sensing algal bloom indices on three turbid eutrophic lakes

Session: 61. - Remote Sensing, Visualization, and Spatial Data Applications for the Great Lakes

Caren Binding, Environment Canada, [email protected]
Chuiqing Zeng, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Anjali Narayanan, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]

Abstract

Comprehensive lake-wide observations of algal blooms are critical to assessing a lake’s health status, developing ecosystem objectives, measuring lake responses to nutrient management practices, and providing an improved understanding of the processes driving blooms.  We will present progress made on ECCC’s satellite remote sensing of algal blooms on three turbid eutrophic inland waters (Lake Winnipeg, Lake Erie, and Lake of the Woods) using the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-3 OLCI sensor.  Quantitative indices for algal bloom intensity, spatial extent, and duration, are derived for the 2017 bloom season, giving robust measures of overall bloom severity on each lake.  Bloom indices are analysed in relation to wind mixing, lake temperature, and intermittent rain events, which drive much of the day to day and seasonal variation in bloom conditions.  Observations from historical MERIS imagery for the period 2002-2011 allow inter-annual changes in bloom conditions to be assessed in relation to nutrient loading and climatic variability, and provide baseline bloom conditions for future change detection.  In situ algal and optical observations from coincident field campaigns, as well as radiative transfer modeling results, provide opportunities to enhance retrieval algorithms in particular with regards to interference from mineral sediment scattering and variable algal community composition. 

1. Keyword
remote sensing

2. Keyword
algae

3. Keyword
Lake Winnipeg

4. Additional Keyword
Lake Erie

5. Additional Keyword
Lake of the Woods