A Four-Band Quasi-Analytical Algorithm With MODIS Bands for Estimating Chlorophyll-a Concentration in Turbid Coastal Waters

Accurate estimation of chlorophyll-a concentration in turbid coastal waters by means of remote sensing is challenging due to the optical complexity of these waters. We have developed a four-band quasi-analytical algorithm for assessment of chlorophyll-a concentration in coastal waters. The objectives of this study are to validate the applicability of three-band semi-analytical algorithm, quasi-analytical algorithm, and four-band quasi-analytical algorithm in estimating chlorophyll-a concentration in turbid coastal waters for MODIS sensor. These three algorithms are calibrated and evaluated against coastal evaluation datasets provided by SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System. The algorithm validation results indicate that the four-band quasi-analytical algorithm produces a superior performance to both three-band semi-analytical algorithm and quasi-analytical algorithm. By comparison, using four-band quasi-analytical algorithm produces 21.61 % uncertainty in estimating chlorophyll-a concentration from turbid coastal waters, lower than 77.90 % for three-band semi-analytical algorithm and 74.31 % for quasi-analytical algorithm, respectively. The significantly reduced uncertainty in chlorophyll-a concentration assessment is due to effectively removal of pigment-package effects and particle overlapping effects on the chlorophyll-a absorption estimation using a optical classification method. These findings imply that, provided that an atmospheric correction scheme for visible and near-infrared bands is available, the database of MODIS imagery could be used for quantitative monitoring of chlorophyll-a concentration in turbid coastal waters by four-band quasi-analytical algorithm.