SOARS (4): REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS IN WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE CUYAHOGA RIVER WATERSHED

Water quality is affected by numerous parameters that are typically measured at single locations in the field. This study demonstrates how two of these parameters (temperature and suspended sediment concentration) can be studied over a wider geographical area using satellite data. Several Landsat TM and ETM+ multispectral data sets between 1984 and 2003 are used to monitor relative temperature and sediment concentrations in the Cuyahoga River Watershed in northeastern Ohio. ENVI, ER Mapper, and ERDAS software packages are used to examine relative temperature changes and suspended sediment concentrations for water bodies in the watershed.

Previous studies deomonstrate that changes in land cover and land use have a significant impact on water temperature and suspended sediment concentrations. This study tests the capability of satellite imagery to map temperature changes and suspended sediment concentrations in order to highlight land use and water quality relationships. A major objective is to identify areas that are considered "hot spots" in terms of temperature and sediment pollution that could ultimately impact the water quality in the study area.