Multisource remote sensing applied to the detection of phytoplankton in inland waters

Blooms of phytoplankton can be a risk to human health and aquatic biota, so the adoption of monitoring methods of phytoplankton and mechanisms for preventing its occurrence are needed. Thus, traditional monitoring methods could be more effective if complemented by approaches using the optical properties of phytoplankton pigments by means of Remote Sensing. In order to evaluate the potential of multi-scale remote sensing for detection of the phytoplankton activity, a study area was selected in Nova Avanhandava reservoir, located in the Tietê River, SP. For this analysis, hyperspectral field data and multispectral images of low and medium spatial resolution (Modis and RapidEye) were acquired and were related to indicator limnological variables of phytoplankton behavior; chlorophyll a and phycocyanin.The results show that a specific spectral band of RapidEye system (690-730 nm) allowed detect chlorophyll a and to evaluate the phytoplankton biomass, however hyperspectral data are needed to detect the phycocyanin pigment, indicative of cyanobacteria.

remote sensing of water; cyanobacteria; chlorophyll a; phycocyanin