Using MODIS data for mapping of water types within river plumes in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Towards the production of river plume risk maps for reef and seagrass ecosystems

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

卷:137

Article

Petus, Caroline¹  da Silva, Eduardo Teixeira¹  Devlin, Michelle¹  Wenger, Amelia S.^1,2  Alvarez-Romero, Jorge G.^1,2 

[1] James Cook Univ, Catchment Reef Res Grp, Ctr Trop Water & Aquat Ecosyst Res, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia

[2] James Cook Univ, Australian Res Council, Ctr Excellence Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia

关键词: Water quality;    River plume;    Water types;    Risk maps;    Ecological impact;    Monitoring;    Great Barrier Reef;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.050

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

River plumes are the major transport mechanism for nutrients, sediments and other land-based pollutants into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR, Australia) and are a major threat to coastal and marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. Understanding the spatial extent, frequency of occurrence, loads and ecological impacts of land-based pollutants discharged through river plumes is essential to drive catchment management actions. In this study, a framework to produce river plume risk maps for seagrass and coral ecosystems, using supervised classification of MODIS Level 2 (L2) satellite products, is presented. Based on relevant 12 thresholds, river plumes are classified into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary water types, which represent distinct water quality (WQ) parameters concentrations and combinations. Annual water type maps are produced over three wet seasons (2010-2013) as a case of study. These maps provide a synoptic basis to assess the likelihood and magnitude of the risk of reduced coastal WQ associated with the river discharge (river plume risk) and in combination with sound knowledge of the regional ecosystems can serve as the basis to assess potential ecological impacts for coastal and marine GBR ecosystems. The methods described herein provide relevant and easily reproducible large-scale information for river plume risk assessment and management. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free