Objective
Summary:
The project is intended to develop an advanced methodology and algorithms for a synergistic satellite sensing of biotic and abiotic processes in seas and large lakes.
The following objectives have been put up:
- Improvement and validation of algorithms for the retrieval of water quality parameters as well as for the delineation of spatial manifestations of biotic and abiotic processes in marine and inland waters from ENVISAT data in the visible to microwave spectral ranges with due account of atmospheric interferences.
- Development of an advanced synergistic methodology for the detection of biotic and abiotic processes in marine and fresh waters based on a comprehensive analysis of ENVISAT concurrent data in the visible to the microwave.
- Creation of time series of surface expressions of biotic and abiotic processes in some water bodies (White Sea, Gulf of Finland, Baltic, German Bight, Skagerrak and Norwegian Coastal Current).
- Application of the developed methodologies for the (i) detection and surveillance of (harmful) algae blooms in targeted water bodies, and (ii) assessment of freshwater quality and the influence of flooding events on it in central and northern Europe.
A variety of mathematical tools will be exploited, e.g. the multivariate optimisation technique, neural network emulators, radiate transfer theory/matrix operator approach and semi-empirical modelling. These are to be combined with appropriately conducted shipborne measurements in order to improve/perfect and validate the desired retrieval algorithms and atmospheric correction procedures. For some water bodies the results of inferring surface manifestations of in-water biotic and abiotic processes will be compared with the nowcasts provided by numerical 3D thermo-hydrodynamic-ecological modelling. Importantly, the targeted water bodies will be chosen in a variety of ambient and latitudinal conditions to cover the actual spectrum of situations occurring in the central and northwestern Europe.
In addition to the advanced methodology, a software tool outfitted with a user-friendly interface and manual, will be produced placed on CD-ROM, and in this format will be available for the interested European community. Information about this CD-ROME will be published as a cover paper in the International Journal of Remote Sensing. The partners of the project will establish a contact e-mail address for direct communicating with the interested users. The results of the project implementation and the website/e-mail links will be reported at various appropriate national and all-European/ international conferences.
One of the important outcomes of the project implementation will be an electronic "Atlas"/dataset documenting the surficial manifestations of biotic and abiotic processes/phenomena as revealed through a synergistic use of visible, infrared and SAR data. This Atlas will be supplied with necessary explanatory/interpretive commentaries. This will broaden the readership/end-user community and facilitate the extraction of the sought-for information.
The user community is expected to include national environmental agencies, managers of aquaculture farms, fish catching ships/companies, authorities involved in decision making under various environment-endangering events, managers of recreation activities, scientists in thermo-hydrodynamics (as applied to marine and surface water bodies), limnologists/hydro-biologists.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
20146 Hamburg
Germany