Paper Info
Title
Characterizing the absorption properties for remote sensing of three small optically-diverse South African reservoirs
Abstract
Characterizing the specific inherent optical properties (SIOPs) of water constituents is fundamental to remote sensing applications. Therefore, this paper presents the absorption properties of phytoplankton, gelbstoff and tripton for three small, optically-diverse South African inland waters. The three reservoirs, Hartbeespoort, Loskop and Theewaterskloof, are challenging for remote sensing, due to differences in phytoplankton assemblage and the considerable range of constituent concentrations. Relationships between the absorption properties and biogeophysical parameters, chlorophyll-a (chl-a), TChl (chl-a plus phaeopigments), seston, minerals and tripton, are established. The value determined for the mass-specific tripton absorption coefficient at 442 nm, (442), ranges from 0.024 to 0.263 m(2)g(-1). The value of the TChl-specific phytoplankton absorption coefficient (phi*) was strongly influenced by phytoplankton species, size, accessory pigmentation and biomass. phi*(440) ranged from 0.056 to 0.018 m(2)mg(-1) in oligotrophic to hypertrophic waters. The positive relationship between cell size and trophic state observed in open ocean waters was violated by significant small cyanobacterial populations. The phycocyanin-specific phytoplankton absorption at 620 nm, pc*(620), was determined as 0.007 m(2)g(-1) in a M. aeruginosa bloom. Chl-a was a better indicator of phytoplankton biomass than phycocyanin (PC) in surface scums, due to reduced accessory pigment production. Absorption budgets demonstrate that monospecific blooms of M. aeruginosa and C. hirundinella may be treated as cultures, removing some complexities for remote sensing applications. These results contribute toward a better understanding of IOPs and remote sensing applications in hypertrophic inland waters. However, the majority of the water is optically complex, requiring the usage of all the SIOPs derived here for remote sensing applications. The SIOPs may be used for developing remote sensing algorithms for the detection of biogeophysical parameters, including chl-a, suspended matter, tripton and gelbstoff, and in advanced remote sensing studies for phytoplankton type detection.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.3390/rs5094370
REMOTE SENSING
Keywords
Field
DocType
remote sensing,inherent optical properties,inland waters,absorption,phycocyanin,tripton,phytoplankton,South Africa
Phytoplankton,Pelagic zone,Trophic level,Bloom,Remote sensing,Remote sensing application,Seston,Geology,Phycocyanin,Accessory pigment
Journal
Volume
Issue
Citations 
5
9
4
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.64
2
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
mark william matthews140.64
Stewart Bernard240.98