Florida Bay Project Profiles: Documenting Water Clarity with Satellite Imagery

Question: How can satellite imagery be used to document water clarity changes in Florida Bay?

Project: In response to seagrass die-offs in Florida Bay, scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been using the visible satellite data as a tool for monitoring water clarity changes over time for this region. Since 1979 a series of satellites operated by NOAA have been observing land, ocean and atmospheric conditions on a daily time scale in order to provide an improved understanding of our environment. These satellites orbit the earth from the North Pole to the South Pole and contain instruments that sense visible, infrared, and microwave radiation. This data can be used to develop future management and stewardship scenarios for Florida Bay.

Findings to Date: The satellite data stream is broadcast to a ground-based reception facility where it is converted into 1-kilometer resolution images. The images, in conjunction with some field measurements, can then be used to detect changes in water turbidity and surface temperature.

Turbid areas in the imagery may indicate regions that have lost their seagrass bottom cover. These regions are more likely to contain large amounts of suspended material in the water column due to resuspended bottom sediments, and microalgae blooms. By monitoring the changes in the position and scale of these turbid regions, an overall assessment of the spatial distribution of seagrass in Florida Bay can be inferred. Additionally, sea surface temperature can also be derived by observing the infrared portion of the satellite data.

Status: Over 1,000 images have been interpreted dating back to 1985. The satellite time series will be made available via a CD-ROM to be released in December 1998. Having the dataset on CD-ROM will facilitate access by the Florida Bay scientific and management community.

Restoration Impacts: This project provides an environmental record of long-term water clarity in Florida Bay including documenting the water clarity prior to major seagrass die-off events in the late 1980s.

Funding Source(s): NOAA, USGS

Related Profiles:

• FBPP-10 • FBPP-87

January 07, 2009 This page last modified: July 16, 2001
January 07, 2009 This page last modified: July 16, 2001	Water Quality Documenting Water Clarity with Satellite Imagery Florida Bay Project Profile - 90 *Question:* How can satellite imagery be used to document water clarity changes in Florida Bay? *Project:* In response to seagrass die-offs in Florida Bay, scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been using the visible satellite data as a tool for monitoring water clarity changes over time for this region. Since 1979 a series of satellites operated by NOAA have been observing land, ocean and atmospheric conditions on a daily time scale in order to provide an improved understanding of our environment. These satellites orbit the earth from the North Pole to the South Pole and contain instruments that sense visible, infrared, and microwave radiation. This data can be used to develop future management and stewardship scenarios for Florida Bay. *Findings to Date:* The satellite data stream is broadcast to a ground-based reception facility where it is converted into 1-kilometer resolution images. The images, in conjunction with some field measurements, can then be used to detect changes in water turbidity and surface temperature. Turbid areas in the imagery may indicate regions that have lost their seagrass bottom cover. These regions are more likely to contain large amounts of suspended material in the water column due to resuspended bottom sediments, and microalgae blooms. By monitoring the changes in the position and scale of these turbid regions, an overall assessment of the spatial distribution of seagrass in Florida Bay can be inferred. Additionally, sea surface temperature can also be derived by observing the infrared portion of the satellite data. *Status:* Over 1,000 images have been interpreted dating back to 1985. The satellite time series will be made available via a CD-ROM to be released in December 1998. Having the dataset on CD-ROM will facilitate access by the Florida Bay scientific and management community. *Restoration Impacts:* This project provides an environmental record of long-term water clarity in Florida Bay including documenting the water clarity prior to major seagrass die-off events in the late 1980s. *Funding Source(s):* NOAA, USGS *Related Profiles:* • FBPP-10 • FBPP-87 fbpp 63
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Water Quality

Documenting Water Clarity with Satellite Imagery