Lake eutrophication change detection for the management of water resources

Abstract

Accelerated eutrophication is often the result of man-induced nutrient enrichment into a water basin as a result of agricultural and industrial practices. This influx of excessive nutrients catalyzes the intense growth of algae and aquatic plants, which has a negative impact on water quality, making it unsuitable for consumption. This research proposes to investigate the potential for satellite imagery to provide continuous monitoring capabilities for advanced notification of lake eutrophication for the management of water resources. We will use in situ field data collected from monitoring stations to calibrate the collected data and to assess the accuracy of this approach. We will utilize historic and current satellite imagery to produce a series of maps for topography, bathymetry, land use, land cover, water clarity, water circulation, water temperature, vegetation indices, and other relevant data layers. This information will permit a comprehensive basin characterization that will facilitate the correlation to field data and the identification of those factors that lead to lake eutrophication.