Zhao, J., Barnes, B., Melo, N., English, D., Lapointe, B., Muller-Karger, F., Schaeffer, B., Hu, C.

Assessment of satellite-derived diffuse attenuation coefficients and euphotic depths in south Florida coastal waters

2013

Remote Sensing of Environment

131

38-50

"Optical data collected in coastal waters off South Florida and in the Caribbean Sea between January 2009 and December 2010 were used to evaluate products derived with three bio-optical inversion algorithms applied to MODIS/Aqua, MODIS/Terra, and SeaWiFS satellite observations. The products included the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd_490) and for the visible range (Kd_PAR), and euphotic depth (Zeu, corresponding to 1% of the surface incident photosynthetically available radiation or PAR). Above-water hyperspectral reflectance data collected over optically shallow waters of the Florida Keys between June 1997 and August 2011 were used to help understand algorithm performance over optically shallow waters. The in situ data covered a variety of water types in South Florida and the Caribbean Sea, ranging from deep clear waters, turbid coastal waters, and optically shallow waters (Kd_490 range of ~0.03-1.29 m-1). An algorithm based on Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs) showed the best performance (RMSDb13% and R2 ~1.0 for MODIS/Aqua and SeaWiFS). Two algorithms based on empirical regressions performed well for offshore clear waters, but underestimated Kd_490 and Kd_PAR in coastal waters due to high turbidity or shallow bottom contamination. Similar results were obtained when only in situ data were used to evaluate algorithm performance. The excellent agreement between satellite-derived remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) and in situ Rrs suggested that the different product uncertainties resulted primarily from algorithm inversion as opposed to atmospheric correction. A simple empirical model was developed to derive Zeu from Kd_490 for satellite measurements of nearshore waters. MODIS/Aqua gave the best results in general relative to in situ observations. Our findings lay the basis for synoptic time-series studies of water quality in coastal ecosystems, yet more work is required to minimize the bottom interference in the Florida Keys optically shallow waters."

Ocean color, Remote sensing, MODIS, SeaWiFS, Bio-optical algorithm, Diffuse attenuation coefficient, Euphotic depth

10.1016/j.rse.2012.12.009

FY2012 CRCP Project ID 454; Project Title: Establish Baseline Optical Conditions in the Florida Keys Coral Reefs, and Quantify Spatial and Temporal Variability; Principal Investigator: Libby Johns