Estimating suspended sediment concentrations in turbid coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel with SeaWiFS

International Journal of Remote Sensing
By: , and 

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Abstract

A technique is presented for estimating suspended sediment concentrations of turbid coastal waters with remotely sensed multi-spectral data. The method improves upon many standard techniques, since it incorporates analyses of multiple wavelength bands (four for Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS)) and a nonlinear calibration, which produce highly accurate results (expected errors are approximately ±10%). Further, potential errors produced by erroneous atmospheric calibration in excessively turbid waters and influences of dissolved organic materials, chlorophyll pigments and atmospheric aerosols are limited by a dark pixel subtraction and removal of the violet to blue wavelength bands. Results are presented for the Santa Barbara Channel, California where suspended sediment concentrations ranged from 0–200+ mg l−1 (±20 mg l−1) immediately after large river runoff events. The largest plumes were observed 10–30 km off the coast and occurred immediately following large El Niño winter floods.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Estimating suspended sediment concentrations in turbid coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel with SeaWiFS
Series title International Journal of Remote Sensing
DOI 10.1080/01431160310001619535
Volume 25
Issue 10
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Description 8 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title International Journal of Remote Sensing
First page 1995
Last page 2002
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Santa Barbara Channel
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