Use of satellite remote sensing tools for the Great Lakes

Abstract

Satellite-based sensors provide synoptic measurements of surface parameters useful in detecting physical and biological conditions of the Great Lakes. Satellite surface temperature measurements using infrared spectra are compatible with buoy measurements and the time series now covers more than two decades in length. This time-series tracks seasonal warming patterns and localized upwelling events. The use of visible spectra for remote sensing of water clarity and particle composition is improving with new algorithms to separate chlorophyll-a, inorganic particles, and dissolved organic matter. The use of satellites to measure these variables holds promise for future quantification of phytoplankton production, calcite precipitation (whiting), and suspended sediment from rivers and resuspension events. Satellite imagery has also been useful for interpreting ship-collected data such as those associated with the bi-national Lake Ontario Lower Foodweb Assessment (LOLA) in 2003.

Keywords:

• surface temperature
• chlorophyll a
• suspended sediments

Acknowledgements

I thank Mohi Munawar for inviting me to speak at the IAGLR session in spring 2007 and contribute to this special issue. I thank my advisors Ed Mills and Lars Rudstam for supporting my pursuit of this side-interest during our analysis of LOLA data. I also acknowledge the SeaDAS Development Group at NASA GSFC for the use of SeaDAS software and the Ocean Color Group for providing access to MODIS data. This is contribution number 272 of the Cornell Biological Field Station.