Bio-optical water quality dynamics observed from MERIS in Pensacola Bay, Florida. (5th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le, Chengfeng; Lehrter, John C.; Schaeffer, Blake A.; Hu, Chuanmin; Murrell, Michael C.; Hagy, James D.; Greene, Richard M.; Beck, Marcus
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 173(2016)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2016-05-05
• Subjects: Bio-optical water quality -- Estuary -- Remote sensing -- MERIS -- Pensacola bay; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.02.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: Observed bio-optical water quality data collected from 2009 to 2011 in Pensacola Bay, Florida were used to develop empirical remote sensing retrieval algorithms for chlorophyll a (Chla), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and suspended particulate matter (SPM). Time-series of the three bio-optical water quality variables were generated from MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) observations from 2003 to 2011. Bio-optical water quality in this estuary exhibited spatial and temporal variations that were correlated to river discharge and wind. Both annual mean and monthly mean bio-optical water quality variables were positively correlated to river discharge. Monthly mean bio-optical water quality variables were also positively correlated to wind speed and wind density (defined by the number of days with daily mean wind speed > 3 m s −1 in a month) over this estuary. These results indicate that bio-optical water quality dynamics in this estuary are vulnerable to changes in river discharge and river constituent loads and local weather conditions such as winter storms and hurricanes.