Near Real Time Monitoring of
Taiwan Coastal Waters - A Multiple Sensor Approach I-I Lin and L.S.
Wen National Centre for Ocean Research P.O. Box 23-13, Taipei 10617, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-23655671 (*148) Fax: 886-2-23644049 Email: linii@odb03.gcc.ntu.edu.tw Keywords :?Near Real Time, Coastal and Estuary Water Monitoring, Multiple Sensor This research uses SEAWIFS, SPOT, and SAR images to monitor the water quality of the estuarine and surrounding coastal region of a major Taiwan river, Tan-Sue River. Estuaries link rivers with the ocean. In estuaries complex dynamic processes including chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes coexist. They are the sites where most pollutants are introduced into the ocean, especially into coastal waters. Understanding the biogeochemistry of estuarine and coastal waters is an important environmental task. However, this understanding is much hindered by the lack of synoptic and frequent observation. In this research, in situ sampling programme is done in conjunction with near real time reception of satellite data. Within 4 hours of data reception, images are reviewed and feature locations are informed to the cruise team to collect water samples. The study site, the Tan-Sue River estuary and the surrounding coastal waters, covers an area of about 100km square. Bi-monthly field sampling in collected sea truth data is ongoing at 20 stations at the study site. The average distance in between the stations is 10km. Sea truth data including chlorophyll-A, dissolved organic matter, and sediments, as well as other basic physical, biogeochemical parameters are collected. Sea truth data are used to develop algorithms in interpreting satellite images. SPOT images (20m spatial resolution) are used to provide detail spatial information of the distribution of pollutants. The potential and applicability of satellite remote sensing in monitoring Taiwan coastal water quality is assessed. |