Properties of Coastal Waters Around the US: Preliminary Results Using MERIS Data

MERIS imageries over coastal waters around the United States were ordered from ESA. These data either reveal enormous phytoplankton blooms (chlorophyll concentrations in the range of 100 - 1000 mg/m) or turbid river plume waters or optically shallow environments. We used in situ measurements to validate remote-sensing reflectance derived from MERIS. Further, we applied algorithms designed for optically deep or optically shallow waters, respectively, to derive water and/or bottom properties of the study area. The derived results were found consistent with in situ measurements or known values. Discussions were also provided regarding remaining issues related to MERIS data. These exercises and results demonstrate the great potentials and capabilities of using MERIS data to monitor water environments in coastal regions.
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