Chesapeake Bay Chlorophyll Measurements from Aircraft Remote Sensing

Chlorophyll concentration data for Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries were collected via airborne radiometric instruments over thirteen years. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center developed the initial Ocean Data Acquisition System, with later instruments like the SeaWiFS Aircraft Simulator providing improved spectral resolution. Measurements cover the main bay from 1989 onward and include monthly tributary surveys of the Choptank and Patuxent Rivers since 1999.

Use Cases

• Model chlorophyll concentration from water-leaving radiance measurements at specific wavelengths (e.g., 460, 490, 520 nm).
• Analyze long-term trends in phytoplankton biomass using the 13-year time series of chlorophyll estimates.
• Compare water quality and primary productivity between contrasting watersheds using data from the agricultural Choptank and suburban Patuxent River surveys.
• Correlate sea surface temperature, measured by an infrared sensor, with chlorophyll concentrations to study environmental drivers.
• Calibrate satellite ocean color data (e.g., SeaWiFS bands) using the higher-resolution airborne radiometer measurements from SAS II and SAS III instruments.

Strengths

• Thirteen-year temporal coverage providing a long-term record for trend analysis.
• Multi-instrument progression (ODAS, SAS II, SAS III) offering improved spectral resolution up to 13 bands.
• Spatial coverage includes both the main Chesapeake Bay and specific tributary systems for comparative studies.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, sample density, and measurement frequency per location are not provided.
• Instrument changes over time (ODAS to SAS III) may introduce consistency challenges for long-term analysis without careful calibration.
• Geographic scope is limited to the Chesapeake Bay and two of its tributaries, not representative of other coastal systems.

Provenance

Source

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (instrument development) and the Chesapeake Bay Remote Sensing Program (CBRSP).

Collection Method

Airborne remote sensing using radiometric instruments (ODAS, SAS II, SAS III) paired with an infrared temperature sensor.

Time Range

1989 to at least the early 2000s (covering thirteen years described, with tributary surveys from 1999).

Freshness

Data collection was ongoing at the time of the description's writing, but a specific end date or update frequency is not stated.

Geography

Chesapeake Bay main stem, and the Choptank and Patuxent River tributaries.