Monitoring Sediment Resuspension in Coral Reefs and Seagrass Beds with MODIS and ASTER Sensors
Gerardo
Toro-Farmer, University of Southern California, torofarm@usc.edu
(Presenting)
Dale
A.
Kiefer, University of Southern California Burton
Jones, University of Southern California Thaddeus
Murdoch, Bermuda Zoological Society Anne
Glasspool, Bermuda Zoological Society
High concentrations of resuspended sediments reduce the survival of species inhabiting coral reefs and seagrass beds all around the world. We propose to demonstrate how MODIS moderate resolution and ASTER sensors can be applied to monitoring such threats in a case study of the Northern Lagoon of Bermuda Island. Specifically, with the support of NASA and the Bermuda Biodiversity Project, Bermuda Zoological Society, we propose to 1) use in-situ instruments for measuring inherent and apparent water column optical properties, as well as suspended sediment concentrations, at different distances from navigation channels and at different times of the year; and 2) to integrate remotely sensed measurements in order to develop an algorithm for mapping and investigating spatial-temporal variations in the amount of resuspended materials threatening coralline organisms. This work will facilitate and improve future monitoring and management of coralline ecosystems in the study area, as well as in other coastal ecosystems.