Vertical distribution of phytoplankton in coastal waters and its detection by backscattering measurements
1995
Piazena, H. | Hader, D.P.
Remote sensing using backscattering data sampled by satellite or airplane is a promising method of monitoring the content of phytoplankton in marine waters. Usually the analysis of the organism concentration is based on the ratio of signals in suitable spectral channels. However, the attenuation of the optical signals involved in the analysis does not only depend on the concentration of organisms but also on their vertical distribution in the water column, on the water type and on the individual content of chlorophyll and accessory pigments in the species that establish the population. The present paper discusses the results of direct measurements of both vertical distribution of phytoplankton concentration and of solar spectral irradiation scattered and absorbed in different waters of the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. From these measurements relations are derived between backscattered spectral signals, water type and the vertical distribution of the organisms. The content of organisms in the column is consistently underestimated if no additional information on water type and vertical distribution of the organisms is taken into account. These data can be estimated from backscattering data of high resolution. In addition, a calibration and adaptation of the remote sensing data by ground truth is necessary to determine the optical properties of different species.
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