Determining the feasibility of mapping and monitoring the extent of Cladophora
in the Laurentian Great Lakes with multi-scale remote sensing
Investigators: Robert Shuchman (Michigan Technological University)
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Abstract
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Cladophora is a filamentous, green alga that grows attached to solid substrate in all of the
Laurentian Great Lakes. Nuisance growth of Cladophora occurs lakewide in comparatively
phosphorus-rich shallow waters (0-15m depth) possessing solid substrate, and has recently become
a prominent Great Lakes ecological and human health issue again in recent years.
The resurgence of nuisance conditions is a result of habitat expansion, i.e. growth enhancement
associated with the improved Great Lakes light climate of the post-dreissenid (zebra and quagga mussel) era.
We are proposing to use remote sensing to demonstrate the feasibility of accurately and repeatedly detecting
Cladophora extent tied to in situ water-truth data. A major focus of this study will be to determine if a
distinct spectral signature of Cladophora in relatively shallow (<15m) waters can be accurately and consistently
determined using remote sensing. Different types and scales of remote sensing platforms will be evaluated,
including aerial photography, AVIRIS, Landsat, and commercial high-resolution satellite systems.
Part of the proposed work will include the application of a bottom mapping algorithm for shallow coastal waters.
Given a body of water that is shallow and/or transparent enough for light to pass through, reflect off the bottom,
and return to the atmosphere from the water surface, a bottom classification algorithm can be used to infer
water-bottom type using multi-spectral and hyper-spectral satellite data. These bottom types can be directly linked
to the presence of Cladophora growth. We propose to tune this algorithm using in-situ radiometric data along with
available bottom-type observations and focused collection of spectral reflectance data.
With demonstrated feasibility, natural resource managers in the Great Lakes concerned with the resurgence of Cladophora
will have access to a monitoring tool that can be used in assessing the effectiveness of new phosphorous reduction
efforts, and to study past Cladophora trends.
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NASA Products
Landsat
Project Partners
natural resource managers in the Great Lakes
Decision Support Tools
bottom classification algorithm
Reports
