Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Using Satellite Imagery

Work done at Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota has demonstrated the feasibility of performing regional assessment of lake water quality using Landsat imagery. Microtel LLC is proposing to tune algorithms available from this research to process imagery collected by NASA Advanced Land Imager (ALI) to generate water quality mappings (secchi depth transparency and chlorophyll a) of the Chesapeake Bay. Extensive ground truth measurements collected routinely and specifically during satellite overflights by Maryland DNR will be utilized to verify results. This proposal is innovative because it will determine the suitability of NASA earth science data for managers concerned with stewardship of the earth's inland water resources. This proposal is significant because it will develop innovative technology that allow the routine use of NASA Earth science results in automated water quality decision support tools. This proposal addresses solicitation subtopic E4.01 "Innovative Tools and Techniques Supporting the Practical Uses of Earth Science Observations". Accurate and timely water quality maps of the Chesapeake Bay will provide a valuable source of information for water management and policy decision makers.