A statistical algorithm for estimating chlorophyll concentration in the New Caledonian lagoon

Spatial and temporal dynamics of phytoplankton biomass and water turbidity can provide crucial information about the function, health and vulnerability of lagoon ecosystems (coral reefs, sea grasses, etc.). A statistical algorithm is proposed to estimate chlorophyll-a concentration ([chl-a]) in optically complex waters of the New Caledonian lagoon from MODIS-derived remote-sensing reflectance (R-rs). The algorithm is developed via supervised learning on match-ups gathered from 2002 to 2010. The best performance is obtained by combining two models, selected according to the ratio of R-rs in spectral bands centered on 488 and 555 nm: a log-linear model for low [chl-a] (AFLC) and a support vector machine (SVM) model or a classic model (OC3) for high [chl-a]. The log-linear model is developed based on SVM regression analysis. This approach outperforms the classical OC3 approach, especially in shallow waters, with a root mean squared error 30% lower. The proposed algorithm enables more accurate assessments of [chl-a] and its variability in this typical oligo- to meso-trophic tropical lagoon, from shallow coastal waters and nearby reefs to deeper waters and in the open ocean

Remote Sensing of the Aquatic Environments

The book highlights recent research efforts in the monitoring of aquatic districts with remote sensing observations and proximal sensing technology integrated with laboratory measurements. Optical satellite imagery gathered at spatial resolutions down to few meters has been used for quantitative estimations of harmful algal bloom extent and Chl-a mapping, as well as winds and currents from SAR acquisitions. The knowledge and understanding gained from this book can be used for the sustainable management of bodies of water across our planet

Opportunities for seagrass research derived from remote sensing : a review of current methods

Seagrass communities provide critical ecosystem and provisioning services for both human populations and a wide range of associated species globally. However, it has been reported that seagrass area is decreasing at a rapid rate in many parts of the world, mostly due to anthropogenic activities including global change (pollution and climate change). The aim of this review article is to highlight the range of current tools for studying seagrasses as well as identify the benefits and limitations of a range of remote sensing and traditional methodologies. This paper provides a discussion of the ecological importance of seagrass meadows, and recent trends and developments in seagrass research methods are discussed including the use of satellite images and aerial photographs for seagrass monitoring and various image processing steps that are frequently utilised for seagrass mapping. The extensive use of various optical, Radar and LiDAR data for seagrass research in recent years has also been described in detail. The review concludes that the recent explosion of new methods and tools available from a wide range of platforms combined with the recent recognition of the importance of seagrasses provides the research community with an excellent opportunity to undertake a range of timely research. This research should include mapping the extent and distribution of seagrasses, identifying the drivers of change and factors that confer resilience, as well as quantification of the ecosystem services provided. Whilst remotely sensed data provides an important new tool it should be used in conjunction with traditional methods for validation and with a knowledge of the limitations of results and careful interpretation

Seasonality and nutrient-uptake capacity of Sargassum spp. in Western Australia

The eight-band high resolution multispectral WorldView-2 satellite imagery demonstrated potential for mapping and monitoring Sargassum spp. beds and other associated coastal marine habitats around Rottnest Island and Point Peron. Sargassum spp. in Western Australian coast showed seasonal changes in canopy cover and mean thallus length which are also significantly influenced by the nutrient concentrations. This study documented the life cycle of Sargassum spinuligerum and successfully cultivated the species for the first time in Western Australia

Fusion de données provenant de différents capteurs satellitaires pour le suivi de la qualité de l'eau en zones côtières. Application au littoral de la région PACA

Monitoring coastal areas requires both a good spatial resolution, good spectral resolution associated with agood signal to noise ratio and finally a good temporal resolution to visualize rapid changes in water color.Available now, and even those planed soon, sensors do not provide both a good spatial, spectral ANDtemporal resolution. In this study, we are interested in the image fusion of two future sensors which are bothpart of the Copernicus program of the European Space Agency: MSI on Sentinel-2 and OLCI on Sentinel-3.Such as MSI and OLCI do not provide image yet, it was necessary to simulate them. We then used thehyperspectral imager HICO and we then proposed three methods: an adaptation of the method ARSIS fusionof multispectral images (ARSIS), a fusion method based on the non-negative factorization tensors (Tensor)and a fusion method based on the inversion de matrices (Inversion).These three methods were first evaluated using statistical parameters between images obtained by fusionand the "perfect" image as well as the estimation results of biophysical parameters obtained by minimizingthe radiative transfer model in water.Le suivi des zones côtières nécessite à la fois une bonne résolution spatiale, une bonne résolution spectraleassociée à un bon rapport signal sur bruit et enfin une bonne résolution temporelle pour visualiser deschangements rapides de couleur de l’eau.Les capteurs disponibles actuellement, et même ceux prévus prochainement, n’apportent pas à la fois unebonne résolution spatiale, spectrale ET temporelle. Dans cette étude, nous nous intéressons à la fusion de 2futurs capteurs qui s’inscrivent tous deux dans le programme Copernicus de l’agence spatiale européenne:MSI sur Sentinel-2 et OLCI sur Sentinel-3.Comme les capteurs MSI et OLCI ne fournissent pas encore d’images, il a fallu les simuler. Pour cela nousavons eu recours aux images hyperspectrales du capteur HICO. Nous avons alors proposé 3 méthodes : uneadaptation de la méthode ARSIS à la fusion d’images multispectrales (ARSIS), une méthode de fusion baséesur la factorisation de tenseurs non-négatifs (Tenseur) et une méthode de fusion basée sur l’inversion dematrices (Inversion)Ces 3 méthodes ont tout d’abord été évaluées à l’aide de paramètres statistiques entre les images obtenuespar fusion et l’image « parfaite » ainsi que sur les résultats d’estimation de paramètres biophysiques obtenuspar minimisation du modèle de transfert radiatif dans l’eau

Book of Abstracts & Lead Articles The Second International Symposium Remote Sensing for Ecosystem Analysis and Fisheries

SAFARI (Societal Applications in Fisheries and Aquaculture using Remotely-Sensed Imagery) is an initiative which provides a forum for coordination, at the international level, of activities in global fisheries research and management. The forum is open to all interested parties, including policy makers, research scientists, government managers, and those involved in the fishing industries. SAFARI organizes international workshops and symposia as a platform to discuss the latest research in Earth observation and fisheries management, information sessions aimed at the fisheries industry, government officials and resource managers, representation at policy meetings, and producing publications relevant to the activities. SAFARI gains worldwide attention through collaboration with other international networks, such as ChloroGIN (Chlorophyll Global Integrated Network), IOCCG (International Ocean-Colour Coordinating Group), POGO (Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans) and the oceans and society: Blue Planet Initiative of the intergovernmental organization, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

Biogeochemical modelling of tropical marine ecosystems in the context of climate change

Chinenye Ani used eReefs models to investigate nutrient dynamics and climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). She found that Trichodesmium is a major source of nitrogen in the GBR and improved the physiological realism of the Trichodesmium submodel of eReefs, which simulates Trichodesmium dynamics in the GBR

Copernicus Ocean State Report, issue 6

The 6th issue of the Copernicus OSR incorporates a large range of topics for the blue, white and green ocean for all European regional seas, and the global ocean over 1993–2020 with a special focus on 2020

Do bacteria thrive when the ocean acidifies? Results from an off-­shore mesocosm study

Marine bacteria are the main consumers of the freshly produced organic matter. In order to meet their carbon demand, bacteria release hydrolytic extracellular enzymes that break down large polymers into small usable subunits. Accordingly, rates of enzymatic hydrolysis have a high potential to affect bacterial organic matter recycling and carbon turnover in the ocean. Many of these enzymatic processes were shown to be pH sensitive in previous studies. Due to the continuous rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration, seawater pH is presently decreasing at a rate unprecedented during the last 300 million years with so-far unknown consequences for microbial physiology, organic matter cycling and marine biogeochemistry. We studied the effects of elevated seawater pCO2 on a natural plankton community during a large-scale mesocosm study in a Norwegian fjord. Nine 25m-long Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Future Ocean Simulations (KOSMOS) were adjusted to different pCO2 levels ranging from ca. 280 to 3000 µatm by stepwise addition of CO2 saturated seawater. After CO2 addition, samples were taken every second day for 34 days. The first phytoplankton bloom developed around day 5. On day 14, inorganic nutrients were added to the enclosed, nutrient-poor waters to stimulate a second phytoplankton bloom, which occurred around day 20. Our results indicate that marine bacteria benefit directly and indirectly from decreasing seawater pH. During both phytoplankton blooms, more transparent exopolymer particles were formed in the high pCO2 mesocosms. The total and cell-specific activities of the protein-degrading enzyme leucine aminopeptidase were elevated under low pH conditions. The combination of enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of organic matter and increased availability of gel particles as substrate supported higher bacterial abundance in the high pCO2 treatments. We conclude that ocean acidification has the potential to stimulate the bacterial community and facilitate the microbial recycling of freshly produced organic matter, thus strengthening the role of the microbial loop in the surface ocean