MONITORING SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS RELATIONSHIP WITH BATHYMETRY on A TROPICAL BAY USING MODERATE RESOLUTION IMAGING SPECTRORADIOMETER (MODIS)

This ongoing project is exploring the relationships between the suspended sediments along different depths under the effects of river discharges. The importance to know those parameters is the effect of the deposited sediments on the coral reefs systems. To aim this objective we are using MODIS sensor, which is onboard two satellites, Aqua and Terra. This sensor has the capability to obtain information of the different ocean optics properties. In this case we are using R_RS (Remote Sensing Reflectance) product, which comes for the first MODIS band. This band is located on the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum and has a spatial resolution of 250m. Using the following algorithm: TSS= 602.63*(0.0007e^{47.755*MODIS band 1} )+ 3.1481 (Rodriguez, V.,2008), we can derive the suspended sediment concentration values from MODIS. Bathymetry data was developed by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on 2006. Was obtained using LIDAR technology and has 4m of spatial resolution. We are comparing the differences of sediment input between dry and wet seasons. USGS (United States Geological Survey) data provide us the discharge (f³/s) and precipitation (inches) within the river basin. This data is analyzed and combined using ENVI and ArcGIS image processing software. This data will serve as a proxy for water quality parameters and help with the coral reef management.