Mapping water quality and substrate cover in optically complex coastal and reef waters: an integrated approach

Sustainable management of coastal and coral reef environments requires regular collection of accurate information on recognized ecosystem health indicators. Satellite image data and derived maps of water column and substrate biophysical properties provide an opportunity to develop baseline mapping and monitoring programs for coastal and coral reef ecosystem health indicators. A significant challenge for satellite image data in coastal and coral reef water bodies is the mixture of both clear and turbid waters. A new approach is presented in this paper to enable production of water quality and substrate cover type maps, linked to a field based coastal ecosystem health indicator monitoring program, for use in turbid to clear coastal and coral reef waters. An optimized optical domain method was applied to map selected water quality (Secchi depth, Kd PAR, tripton, CDOM) and substrate cover type (seagrass, algae, sand) parameters. The approach is demonstrated using commercially available Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper image data over a coastal embayment exhibiting the range of substrate cover types and water quality conditions commonly found in sub-tropical and tropical coastal environments. Spatially extensive and quantitative maps of selected water quality and substrate cover parameters were produced for the study site. These map products were refined by interactions with management agencies to suit the information requirements of their monitoring and management programs.     

Spatial patterns of sub-tidal seagrasses and their tissue nutrients in the Torres Strait,northern Australia: Implications for management

The distribution and nutritional profiles of sub-tidal seagrasses from the Torres Strait were surveyed and mapped across an area of 31,000 km². Benthic sediment composition, water depth, seagrass species type and nutrients were sampled at 168 points selected in a stratified representative pattern. Eleven species of seagrass were present at 56 (33.3%) of the sample points. Halophila spinulosa, Halophila ovalis, Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodium isoetifolium were the most common species and these were nutrient profiled. Sub-tidal seagrass distribution (and associated seagrass nutrient concentrations) was generally confined to northern-central and south-western regions of the survey area (<longitude 142.60), where mean water depth was relatively shallow (approximately 13 m below MSL) and where sediments were comprised primarily muddy sand to gravelly sand. Seagrass nitrogen and starch content, the most important nutrients for marine herbivores, were significantly correlated with species and with the plant component (above or below ground). For all seagrass species, the above-ground component (shoots and leaves) possessed greater nitrogen concentrations than the below-ground component (roots and rhizomes), which possessed greater starch concentrations. S. isoetifolium had the highest total nitrogen concentrations (1.40±0.05% DW). However, it also had higher fibre concentrations (38.2±0.68% DW) relative to the other four species. H. ovalis possessed the highest starch concentrations (2.76±0.12% DW) and highest digestibility (83.24±0.66% DW) as well as the lowest fibre (27.2±0.66% DW). The high relative abundance (found at 55% of the sites that had seagrass) and nutrient quality characteristics of H. ovalis make it an important source of energy to marine herbivores that forage sub-tidally in the Torres Strait. There were two regions in Torres Strait (north-central and south-western) where sub-tidal seagrass meadows were prevalent and of relatively higher nutritional value. This spatial and nutritional information can be used by local agencies to manage and to protect the ecological, economic and cultural values of the sub-tidal seagrass ecosystems and associated fisheries of the Torres Strait.     

Spectra of a shallow sea—unmixing for class identification and monitoring of coastal waters

Ocean colour-based monitoring of water masses is a promising alternative to monitoring concentrations in heterogeneous coastal seas. Fuzzy methods, such as spectral unmixing, are especially well suited for recognition of water masses from their remote sensing reflectances. However, such models have not yet been applied for water classification and monitoring. In this study, a fully constrained endmember model with simulated endmembers was developed for water class identification in the shallow Wadden Sea and adjacent German Bight. Its performance was examined on in situ measured reflectances and on MERIS satellite data. Water classification by means of unmixing reflectance spectra proved to be successful. When the endmember model was applied to MERIS data, it was able to visualise well-known spatial, tidal, seasonal, and wind-related variations in optical properties in the heterogeneous Wadden Sea. Analyses show that the method is insensitive to small changes in endmembers. Therefore, it can be applied in similar coastal areas. For use in open ocean situations or coastal or inland waters with other specific inherent optical properties, re-simulation of the endmember spectra with local optical properties is required. However, such an adaptation requires only a limited number of local in situ measurements.     

乌梁素海沉水植物群落光谱特征及冠层水深影响分析

沉水植物对于改善富营养化水体和重建水生生态系统起着至关重要的作用.应用遥感技术可以实时、大面积监测沉水植物的分布和生长情况,而冠层水深直接影响沉水植物在湖泊、河流中的准确遥感解译.本研究基于实测光谱数据,分析了乌梁素海沉水植物光谱特征,并研究了冠层水深对乌梁素海沉水植物反射光谱的影响,建立了乌梁素海沉水植物冠层水深反演模型.结果表明:1)挺水植物在短波红外1662 nm和2223 nm附近分别有一个反射峰,这是挺水植物区别于沉水植物和漂浮藻类的重要波段; 0深度沉水植物(WDC=0)与漂浮藻类的光谱反射率非常接近,但是在绿波段(550～690 nm)有明显差异,因此,可以利用绿波段和短波红外波段的光谱特征来区分挺水植物、沉水植物和漂浮藻类.2)沉水植物群落的光谱反射率随冠层水深的增加而降低,在700～900 nm波段范围内变化最为明显,且在700～735 nm波段附近,沉水植物群落光谱反射率与冠层水深呈显著负相关.3)在建立的单波段/波段比沉水植物冠层水深反演模型中,波段比反演模型要优于单波段反演模型,波段比反演模型的决定系数R2 0.70,均方根误差13.70 cm,平均相对误差28%,反演精度较好,适用于10～60 cm沉水植物冠层水深的反演.4)利用波段响应函数,将实测光谱反射率积分到Landsat-8 OLI波段上,建立OLI了冠层水深反演模型,其中,波段比幂函数模型反演效果最好,R2为0.49,均方根误差为18.17 cm,平均相对误差40.05%.可用于精确大气校正后乌梁素海沉水植物冠层水深的反演.     

鄱阳湖水位变化对候鸟栖息地的影响

鄱阳湖越冬候鸟保护最重要的环节是保护栖息地,候鸟栖息地的面积和空间分布随水位过程而变化.在分析认定鄱阳湖湿地景观分类中水陆过渡带及其上下摆动区(稀疏草滩区和浅水区)为越冬候鸟主要栖息地的基础上,选择不同水位的遥感影像资料,经解译定量分析不同水位水陆过渡带面积及其空间分布,从而分析不同水位条件对候鸟柄息地的影响.进而分析...     

On the remote monitoring of Karenia brevis blooms of the west Florida shelf

In situ surveys (1997–2002) of Karenia brevis distribution on the west Florida shelf were used to explain spectral remote sensing reflectance, chlorophyll-a concentration, and backscattering coefficient estimates derived using SeaWiFS satellite data. Two existing approaches were tested in an attempt to differentiate K. brevis blooms from other blooms or plumes. A chlorophyll-anomaly method used operationally by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sometimes correctly identified K. brevis blooms but also generated false positives and false negatives. The method identified approximately 1000 km² of high chlorophyll-anomalies (>1 mg m⁻³) off southwest Florida between the 10 and 50-m isobaths nearly every day from summer to late fall. Whether these patches were K. brevis blooms or not is unknown. A second method used a backscattering:chlorophyll-a ratio to identify K. brevis patches. This method separated K. brevis from other blooms using in situ optical data, but it yielded less satisfactory results with SeaWiFS data. Spectral reflectance (R_rs) estimates for K. brevis blooms, diatom blooms, and coastal river plumes are statistically similar for many cases. Large pixel size, shallow water, and imperfect algorithms distort satellite retrievals of bio-optical parameters in patchy blooms. At present, a combination of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-anomaly, backscattering:chlorophyll-a ratio, RGB composites, MODIS fluorescence data, as well as time-series analysis and ancillary data such as winds, currents, and sea surface temperature can improve K. brevis bloom assessments. Progress in atmospheric correction and bio-optical inversion algorithms is required to help improve capabilities to monitor K. brevis blooms from space. Further, satellite sensors with improved radiometric capabilities and temporal/spatial resolutions are also required.     

改性当地土壤技术修复富营养化水体综合效果研究:Ⅰ.水质改善的应急与长期效果与机制

2010年10月-2011年9月在太湖梅梁湾围隔内研究了改性当地土壤絮凝除藻及其对水质改善的应急和长期效果,并结合室内实验研究了该技术防控底泥再悬浮和减少底泥二次污染的长效机制.现场围隔实验结果表明,改性当地土壤除藻30 min后,TN、NO3--N、NH4+-N、TP、PO34--P和Chl.a的去除率分别为66%、57%、60%、93%、92%和98%;长期监测结果表明,与对照区域相比,围隔内的TN、NH4+-N、NO3--N、TP和PO34--P在处理后11个月内的平均值分别降低了39.83%、52.30%、48.53%、18.75%和60.00%.室内再悬浮实验结果表明,改性土壤和沙子抗再悬浮能力较未改性土壤分别提高了3和5倍.室内柱培养结果表明改性土壤絮凝除藻和沙土覆盖相结合可有效提高表层沉积物-水界面的氧化还原电位和溶解氧,使沉积物向水体的TP和TN通量从源逆转成汇,PO34--P和NH4+-N通量大幅度降低.改性土壤技术在利用絮凝除藻快速改善水质后,可通过改性沙/土分层底泥调控分别达到对藻絮体再悬浮的物理控制和营养盐再释放的化学控制,通过将亚表层底泥中的藻细胞分解并被沉水植物根系吸收,可实现对底泥中水华蓝藻复苏和水体富营养化的长效生态控制.     

Estimation of suspended sediment concentration based on bio-optical mechanism and HJ-1 image in Chaohu Lake

Synchronization experiment was conducted in June, 2009 to get Inherent Optical Properties (IOP) of water component in Chaohu Lake. Water bio-optical mechanism was studied combined with multispectral data of Environmental Satellite 1 (CCD), and then inversion models of total suspended matter (TSM), inorganic suspended matter (ISM) and organic suspended matter (OSM) concentration were built. The data indicated that: the absorption ratio of suspended particulate matter and CDOM to total were almost no change from band 1 to band 2 with about 85% and 9%, respectively. The ratio of pure water to total increased from 0.4% to 5.6%. Water reflectance in these two bands were influenced by absorption of three kinds of components: algae particles absorption surpassed non-algal particles in band 3, and so played an important role in total absorption with about 35.7%; the proportion of pure water absorption and particles matter backscattering both were 99% in band 4, so these two components decided the main inherent optical properties in band 4. The models of TSM and ISM concentration inversion based on band combination (band 3 + band 4)/(band 1 + band 2) were built, while OSM concentration was estimated by band 4/(band 1 + band 2) index. Inversed by image data, RE of TSM concentration between modeled and measured was 33.4%, and RMSE was 18.68 mg/L. RE of ISM and OSM concentration were 39.9% and 35.2% respectively. The inversion was more accurate when satellite-ground data were just in the same day. At this situation, RE of ISM concentration dropped to 25.4%, and that of TSM and OSM reduced to 26.5% and 26.8% as well.

     

Coastal habitat degradation and green sea turtle diets in Southeastern Brazil

To show the influence of coastal habitat degradation on the availability of food for green turtles (Chelonia mydas), we assessed the dietary preferences and macroalgae community at a feeding area in a highly urbanized region. The area showed low species richness and was classified as degraded. We examined stomach contents of 15 dead stranded turtles (CCL = 44.0 cm (SD 6.7 cm)). The diet was composed primarily of green algae Ulva spp. (83.6%). In contrast, the macroalgae community was dominated by the green alga Caulerpa mexicana. We found a selection for red algae, seagrass and Ulva spp., and avoidance for C. mexicana and brown alga Dictyopteris delicatula. The low diversity of available food items, possibly a result of environmental degradation, likely contributed to the low dietary diversity. The nutritional implications of this restricted diet are unclear.     

Carbonate sedimentation in seagrass beds on Ishigaki‐jima,Ryukyu Islands,southwestern Japan

In order to investigate biota and sedimentary facies, and to delineate processes of carbonate sedimentation in seagrass beds, we conducted sedimentological investigations along three onshore–offshore transects at two sites (Nagura and Yoshihara) on Ishigaki‐jima, Ryukyu Islands. Along the transects, the seagrass beds extended seaward 20–40 m from shore, and their widths parallel to the shore ranged from 60 to >110 m. The seagrass was dominated by Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata and subordinate C. serrulata. Seasonal changes in seagrass coverage were evident, with mean coverage relatively higher in summer and fall (July and October) than in winter and spring (January and April). The surface sediment throughout the seagrass beds was dominated by medium to very coarse sand‐sized bioclasts displaying grainstone/packstone fabrics. Bioclasts were dominated by corals and coralline algae, with lesser benthic foraminifers, mollusks, echinoids, and Halimeda. The grainstone/packstone was underlain by gravelly sediment with coral clasts, showing a rudstone fabric, at the Nagura Site. The lower part of the core sediment was blackened, indicating a reducing environment. Two dates of corals collected at the Nagura and Yoshihara sites (24.5 cm and 16.5 cm below the sea bottom) were 2781–2306 and 4374–3805 cal BP (2σ age range), respectively, suggesting extremely low sedimentation rates (<0.1 mm/year). Sediment influx was higher during July–January than during January–July. The relatively large influx during summer and fall is caused by massive sediment transport during typhoons and storms. The total sediment influx (i.e., suspension‐load sediment transportation) is 74–96 kg CaCO₃/m²/year at the Nagura Site and 21–57 kg CaCO₃/m²/year at the Yoshihara Site. Sediment influx was significantly greater in the seagrass beds than in surrounding areas, providing supporting evidence for an sediment trapping function of seagrass beds. Our data indicate that seagrass beds in the Ryukyu Islands are characterized by high sediment fluxes and extremely low sedimentation rates.     

Estimation of suspended sediment concentration based on bio-optical mechanism and HJ-1 image in Chaohu Lake

Synchronization experiment was conducted in June, 2009 to get Inherent Optical Properties (IOP) of water component in Chaohu Lake. Water bio-optical mechanism was studied combined with multispectral data of Environmental Satellite 1 (CCD), and then inversion models of total suspended matter (TSM), inorganic suspended matter (ISM) and organic suspended matter (OSM) concentration were built. The data indicated that: the absorption ratio of suspended particulate matter and CDOM to total were almost no change from band 1 to band 2 with about 85% and 9%, respectively. The ratio of pure water to total increased from 0.4% to 5.6%. Water reflectance in these two bands were influenced by absorption of three kinds of components: algae particles absorption surpassed non-algal particles in band 3, and so played an important role in total absorption with about 35.7%; the proportion of pure water absorption and particles matter backscattering both were 99% in band 4, so these two components decided the main inherent optical properties in band 4. The models of TSM and ISM concentration inversion based on band combination (band 3 + band 4)/(band 1 + band 2) were built, while OSM concentration was estimated by band 4/(band 1 + band 2) index. Inversed by image data, RE of TSM concentration between modeled and measured was 33.4%, and RMSE was 18.68 mg/L. RE of ISM and OSM concentration were 39.9% and 35.2% respectively. The inversion was more accurate when satellite-ground data were just in the same day. At this situation, RE of ISM concentration dropped to 25.4%, and that of TSM and OSM reduced to 26.5% and 26.8% as well.     

Hydrogeologic Characteristics of Shallow Glacial Drift Aquifers in Dissected Till Plains (North-Central Missouri)

The dissected till plains physiographic province contains extensive areas of pre-Illinoian drift in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. The drift is typically a clay-rich, oxidized, and highly weathered till. In many areas of Missouri, this shallow drift represents the only readily available aquifer suitable for domestic and small agricultural users. There are, however, only few published data on the region's hydrogeology. Water budget analyses indicate that approximately 30% of mean annual rainfall is discharged by stream flow and 70% by evapotranspiration. The shallow drift flow systems are best considered unconfined, steady-state systems. Each watershed corresponds roughly to a local ground-water system. There is, typically, little hydraulic connection between the shallow drift systems and underlying strata. The drift hydraulic conductivity varies from approximately 10¹¹ m/sec (laboratory tests) to 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁷ m/sec (field tests) when permeable sand lenses or joints are intersected. Ground-water discharge is concentrated in the immediate vicinity of stream channels, and recharge is concentrated on nearly horizontal hillslope summits. The ground water is generally potable (averaging 455 mg/1 total dissolved solids), but may be high in iron or polluted locally by organic wastes.     

The effect of velocity veering on sand transport in a shallow sea

This study aims at comparing and contrasting two different models for sand transport by currents in a shallow sea to illustrate the effect of velocity veering. The first model uses the Bailard-type formulation, which allows calculation of erosion/deposition rates at a fixed location on the sea floor via the divergence of horizontal sediment fluxes. The second model is a semi-analytical 2.5-dimensional model, which takes into account the time lag between erosion and deposition events and the velocity veering within the sediment-laden (nepheloid) layer caused by the Coriolis force. The velocity veering implies that the direction of the sediment flux is generally different from the direction of the surface flow. The latter model was designed for rapid, semi-analytical computations of sediment transport, using flow fields from 2-DH numerical models. The two models use a matching set of parameters to provide identical values for the bottom stress and suspended sediment load for a uniform steady current at any given surface velocity. The two models were compared in a range of sand grain sizes 50–500 m and current speeds up to 1 m s^–1 for an idealised square region (100 × 100 km) of a shelf sea of constant depth. The erosion/deposition patterns and suspension load were examined in three settings: (1) uniform steady flow, (2) straight jet, (3) meandering jet. It was found that both the rates and, in particular, the spatial distribution of the areas of erosion/deposition differ significantly between the models in cases (2) and (3). This difference can be attributed to additional flux divergence due to velocity veering. A comparison of model results with field data, collected at Long Island Shelf, supports the relevance of Coriolis-induced veering of currents on the direction of the sediment flux.Responsible Editor: Jens Kappenberg     

太湖秋季水体遥感反射比的简单经验估测模型

2004年10月现场测量了太湖水体的遥感反射比、后向散射系数以及其他必要参数,实验室测量了水体的悬浮颗粒物质浓度.首先把太湖划分为3个大区,即遥感反射比受湖底影响的区域(影响区)、不受湖底影响的区域(非影响区)以及可能受湖底影响的区域(可能影响区),然后再把太湖分为高混浊、中混浊、低清澈以及高清澈等4类水体类型,分别列出了各种水体区域类型的相关属性数据.在整个太湖区域范围内,建立了后向散射和悬浮颗粒物质浓度的经验回归模型;仅在非影响区内,建立了遥感反射比和后向散射的经验回归模型,并可以利用悬浮颗粒物质浓度直接估测遥感反射比.最后详细分析了模型的精度.     

Monitoring acidic water in a polluted river with hyperspectral remote sensing (HyMap)

Abstract

Sulphide mine waste extensively contaminates the Odiel River (southwest Spain), releasing sulphuric acid into the water body. Acidic water in this river precipitates and dissolves variably hydrated iron sulphate in a complex geological pattern controlled by climate. Local abrupt changes in the water pH in the vicinity of highly contaminated tributaries can be mapped by means of imaging spectroscopy using hyperspectral remote sensing (HyMap) data. Also, increased pH through mixing of acidic river water with marine water can be detected when the river reaches the area influenced by sea tides. Mapping the quality of water with hyperspectral data is confounded by vegetation, either dry or wet, rooted or floating. The spectral features of acidic water measured with a field spectrometer revealed the spectral influence of green vegetation, similar to the influence of the depth and transparency of water. Careful mapping of such parameters with HyMap data must therefore precede any spectral evaluation of water related to acidity in a river course. The spectral features detectable by HyMap data and associated with pH changes caused by contamination in river water by iron sulphide mine waste, and their controls, are described and references established for routine monitoring through hyperspectral image processing.     

Seagrass population dynamics and water quality in the Great Barrier Reef region: a review and future research directions

Seagrasses in the Great Barrier Reef region, particularly in coastal habitats, act as a buffer between catchment inputs and reef communities and are important habitat for fisheries and a food source for dugong and green turtle. Within the Great Barrier Reef region there are four different seagrass habitat types now recognised. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the different types of seagrass habitat is poorly understood. In general seagrass growth is limited by light, disturbance and nutrient supply, and changes to any or all of these limiting factors may cause seagrass decline. The capacity of seagrasses to recover requires either recruitment via seeds or through vegetative growth. The ability of seagrass meadows to recover from large scale loss of seagrass cover observed during major events such as cyclones or due to anthropogenic disturbances such as dredging will usually require regeneration from seed bank. Limited research into the role of pollutants on seagrass survival suggests there may be ongoing impacts due to herbicides, pesticides and other chemical contaminants. Further research and monitoring of seagrass meadow dynamics and the influence of changing water quality on these is needed to enhance our ability to manage seagrasses on the Great Barrier Reef.     

杂食性鱼类对浅水水体底栖—浮游生境耦合作用的影响:微综述

浅水水体存在着强烈的底栖—浮游生境耦合作用,耦合的结果决定着水生态系统关键特征.在缺少大型水生植物的浅水系统中,底栖藻类和浮游藻类对光照和营养盐的竞争是底栖—浮游生境耦合最为重要的生态过程之一,但该过程受到杂食性鱼类的影响.本文以浅水水体的底栖—浮游生境耦合作用为切入点,综述了杂食性鱼类对浅水水体底栖—浮游生境耦合作用...     

Crustal structure of eastern Cuba,derived by constrained 3D gravity inversion

A three-dimensional crustal model for Eastern Cuba, obtained through a process of gravity data inversion is presented. The study area cover a rectangular area of 64 600 km². The initial model for the inversion was constrained by surface geology, seismic and drilling data. The inversion algorithm uses gravity data to estimate 3-D topographies from the main geological units. The model provides quantitative information on the depths and thicknesses of the geological formations. The resulting model provides new information about the regional composition of the crust. Alien sequences are observed with different compositions and origin over the basement of Bahamas carbonate platform. Most of the maximum gravity anomalies are associated with presence of dense shallow ophiolite sheets. The most remarkable detail is the gravity “southwest” maximum, related to the presence of denser oceanic crust generated in the Cayman spreading center.     

Contrasting recovery of shallow and deep water seagrass communities following climate associated losses in tropical north Queensland,Australia

Tropical seagrass decline and recovery from severe storm impacts was assessed via quarterly measurements of seagrass biomass, species composition and experimental investigations of recovery in north Queensland. Shallow and deep seagrass meadows suffered major declines. Significant recovery in the two years following loss only occurred at deeper sites. Halophila spp. in deep water areas had a high capacity for recovery through the availability of seed banks. In contrast, the shallow species did not recover quickly from experimental disturbance, had poor seed reserves and relied on asexual propagation. The potential for shallow species to recover rapidly from widespread losses was limited as seed banks were limited or non-existent. Understanding inter- and intra-specific differences in seagrass recovery and how this interacts with location is critical to predict the consequences of climate events to tropical seagrasses. This is especially important as more frequent severe storms are predicted as a consequence of climate change.     

Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef region: responses of mangrove, seagrass and macroalgal communities

Marine plants colonise several interconnected ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef region including tidal wetlands, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Water quality in some coastal areas is declining from human activities. Losses of mangrove and other tidal wetland communities are mostly the result of reclamation for coastal development of estuaries, e.g. for residential use, port infrastructure or marina development, and result in river bank destabilisation, deterioration of water clarity and loss of key coastal marine habitat. Coastal seagrass meadows are characterized by small ephemeral species. They are disturbed by increased turbidity after extreme flood events, but generally recover. There is no evidence of an overall seagrass decline or expansion. High nutrient and substrate availability and low grazing pressure on nearshore reefs have lead to changed benthic communities with high macroalgal abundance. Conservation and management of GBR macrophytes and their ecosystems is hampered by scarce ecological knowledge across macrophyte community types.