Evaluating the feasibility of using Sentinel-2 imagery for water clarity assessment in a reservoir. (November 2019) - Bonansea, Matias
Abstract: The new Sentinel-2 satellites present a significant scientific opportunity for the study of water quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of Sentinel-2 imagery for estimating and mapping Secchi disk transparency (SDT) in Río Tercero reservoir (Córdoba-Argentina). Field observations and a dataset of atmospherically corrected Sentinel-2 images were used to generate and validate an algorithm to estimate water clarity in the studied reservoir. As a real application of the used methodology, the validated algorithm was used to obtain a spatial representation of water clarity in the reservoir during sampling campaigns. Results demonstrate capabilities of Sentinel-2 mission to make a substantial contribution to the current assessment and understanding of aquatic systems by estimating and mapping a water quality characteristic. Highlights: New generation of Earth observation satellites improves water quality monitoring. MSI sensor aboard Sentinel-2A/B satellites provides high-resolution observations. Sentinel-2 satellites were used to estimate water clarity in a reservoir surface. Maps created with Sentinel-2 imagery provide rich information of water quality.