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Klemas, V.

Otley, M.

Philpot, W.

Rogers, R.

Wethe, C.

English

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CORRELATION OF COASTAL WATER TURBIDITY Ho
AND CIRCULAT[ON WITH ERTS-1 AND SKYLAB IMAGERY V co0
S0tr
0H 0
V. Klemas c oa
M. Otley o
W. Philpot
C. Wethe .- 3
R. Rogers t- 0 r-
College of Marine Studies on
Bendix Aerospace Division e
Ann Arbor, MI
SH
En co
presented at the c0
Ninth international Symposium on
Remote Sensing of Environment
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
April 15-19, 1974
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740020718 2020-03-23T05:33:49+00:00Z
CORRELATION OF COASTAL WATER TURBIDITY
AND CIRCULATION WITH ERTS-1 AND SKYLAB IMAGERY
V. Klemas
M. Otley
W. Philpot
C. Wethe
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
R. Rogers
Bendix Aerospace Division
Ann Arbor, MI
ABSTRACT
Imagery and digital tapes from ten successful ERTS-1 passes and one
Skylab pass over Delaware Bay during different portions of the tidal
cycle have been analyzed with special emphasis on turbidity, current
circulation, waste disposal plumes and convergent boundaries between
different water masses. (NASA-ERTS-1 I.D. Nos. 1024-15073, 1079-
15133, 1133-15141, 1186-15081, 1187-15140, 1205-15141, 1294-15083,
1349-15134, 1385-15131, 1403-15125 and Skylab-EREP pass of September
12, 1973, respectively). During ERTS-1 and Skylab overpasses ground
truth was collected with boats and helicopters along three transects
across the bay, including measurements of Secchi depth, suspended
sediment concentration, transmissivity, temperature, salinity, and
water color. Nine major medium and high altitude aircraft overflights
were conducted during the same period.
Under atmospheric conditions encountered along the East Coast of
the United States, MSS band 5 seemed to give the best representation of
sediment load in the upper one meter of the water column. Band 4
was masked by haze-like noise, while band 6 did not penetrate as deeply
into the water column. ERTS-1 image radiance (microdensitometer trace)
correlated well with Secchi depth and suspended sediment concentration.
Color density slicing of 70mm transparencies helped delineate the suspended
sediment patterns more clearly and differentiate turbidity levels.
Density slicing of all four MSS bands gave an indication of relative
sediment concentration as a function of depth, since the four bands pene-
trate to different depths ranging from several meters to several centi-
meters, respectively. Sediment pattern enhancements obtained by additive
color viewing of the four ERTS-1 MSS band transparencies did not notice-
ably improve the contrast beyond that seen in the best band, i.e., MSS
band 5. HoWever, digital enhancement techniques produced improved the-
matic maps.i
Current circulation patterns were observed during different parts of
the tidal cycle, using suspended sediment as a natural tracer. The cur-
rent direction in the ERTS-1 imagery agreed well with predicted and
measured currents throughout Delaware Bay. During flood tide the sus-
pended sediment as seen from ERTS-1 also correlated with the depth pro-
file since most of turbidity during flood tide seems to be caused by sand
particles brought into temporary suspension by currents and waves over
shallow parts of the bay. As expected, no such correlation was found
during ebb tide, when smaller particles of silt and clay are carried
down the river in a state of nearly permanent suspension.
Convergent shear boundaries between different water masses have been
observed from ERTS-l, with foam lines containing high concentrations of
lead, mercury, and other toxic substances. In several ERTS-1 and Skylab
EREP framed, acid disposal plumes 'have been detected about 40 miles
off Delaware's Atlantic coast.
Analysis of Skylab-EREP photographs of September 12, 1973, permitted
identification of all water features seen by ERTS-1, with considerably
better spatial and spectral resolution.
Delawre Cty 6 0 Salem.........~ -qT
CaD CA AL
39. I
I Bridgeton
Dover a
KEY
Concentrations from non-
finear regression. mg/liter
C3211 5.6
104 7.7
I-I
39 unclassified 
.
S 16 O unclassified
I Lewes a
Figure 15: SEDIMENT DISTRIBUTION MAP
Rehoboth
'NAUTICAL MILES
1 0 5 0
IL, 7545' 5-5'Ocean City. Md.
75o4s' T o 3o'I 7 7' oo' 74*45'


Correlation of coastal water turbidity and circulation with ERTS-1 and Skylab imagery

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