A Hybrid Approach to Estimate Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Turbid Estuaries from Satellite Measurements: A Case Study for Tampa Bay

Authors

Chengfeng Le, University of South FloridaFollow
Chuanmin Hu, University of South FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Keywords

Absorption coefficient, Atmospheric correction, Attenuation coefficient, Light fields, Radiative transfer, Remote sensing

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.21.018849

Abstract

Remote sensing of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from satellite measurements for estuaries has been problematic due to optical complexity of estuarine waters and uncertainties in satellite-derived remote sensing reflectance (Rrs, sr⁻¹). Here we demonstrate a hybrid approach to combine empirical and semi-analytical algorithms to derive CDOM absorption coefficient at 443 nm (a_g(443), m⁻¹) in a turbid estuary (Tampa Bay) from MODIS Aqua (MODISA) and SeaWiFS measurements. The approach first used a validated empirical algorithm and a modified quasi-analytical algorithm (QAA) to derive chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla, mg m⁻³) and particulate backscattering coefficient at 443 nm (b_bp(443), m⁻¹), respectively, from which phytoplankton pigment and non-algal particulate absorption coefficient at 443 nm (a_ph(443) and a_d(443), m⁻¹) were derived with pre-determined bio-optical relationships. Then, the modified QAA was used to estimate the total absorption coefficient at 443 nm (a_t(443), m⁻¹). Finally, a_g(443) was estimated as (a_t(443) - a_ph(443) - a_d(443) – a_w(443)) where a_w(443) is the absorption coefficient of pure water (a constant). Using data collected from 71 field stations and 33 near-concurrent satellite-field matchup data pairs covering a large dynamic range (0.3 – 8 m⁻¹), the approach showed ~23% RMS uncertainties in retrieving a_g(443) when in situ Rrs data (N = 71) were used. The same approach applied to satellite Rrs yielded much higher uncertainties of a_g(443) (~85%) due to large errors in the satellite-retrieved Rrs(443). When the Rrs(443) was derived from the satellite-retrieved Rrs(550) and then used in the hybrid approach, uncertainties in the retrieved a_g(443) reduced to ~30% (N = 33). Application of the approach to MODISA and SeaWiFS data led to a 15-year time series of monthly mean a_g(443) distributions in Tampa Bay between 1998 and 2012. This time series showed significant seasonal and annual variations regulated mainly by river discharge. Testing of the approach over another turbid estuary (Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S.) demonstrated the potential (~25% uncertainties for a limited a_g(443) range) of using this approach to establish long-term environmental data records (EDRs) of CDOM distributions in other estuaries with similar optical complexity.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Optics Express, v. 21, issue 16, p. 18849-18871

Scholar Commons Citation

Le, Chengfeng and Hu, Chuanmin, "A Hybrid Approach to Estimate Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Turbid Estuaries from Satellite Measurements: A Case Study for Tampa Bay" (2013). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1928.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1928