Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient (Kd) from ICESat-2 ATLAS Spaceborne Lidar Using Random-Forest Regression

This study investigates a new method for measuring water turbidity—specifically, the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance Kd —using data from a spaceborne, green-wavelength lidar aboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's ICESat-2 satellite. The method enables us to fill nearshore data voids in existing Kd data sets and provides a more direct measurement approach than methods based on passive multispectral satellite imagery. Furthermore, in contrast to other lidar-based methods, it does not rely on extensive signal processing or the availability of the system impulse response function, and it is designed to be applied globally rather than at a specific geographic location. The model was tested using Kd measurements from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite sensor at 94 coastal sites spanning the globe, with Kd values ranging from 0.05 to 3.6 m –1 . The results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach and serve as a benchmark for future machine-learning regression studies of turbidity using ICESat-2.

Phytoplankton Genera Structure Revealed from the Multispectral Vertical Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient

The composition of phytoplankton and the concentration of pigments in their cells make their absorption and specific absorption coefficients key parameters for bio-optical modeling. This study investigated whether the multispectral vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient of downward irradiance (Kd) gradients could be a good framework for accessing phytoplankton genera. In situ measurements of remote sensing reflectance (Rrs), obtained in an Amazon Floodplain Lake (Lago Grande do Curuai), were used to invert Kd, focusing on Sentinel-3/Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) sensor bands. After that, an analysis based on the organization of three-way tables (STATICO) was applied to evaluate the relationships between phytoplankton genera and Kd at different OLCI bands. Our results indicate that phytoplankton genera are organized according to their ability to use light intensity and different spectral ranges of visible light (400 to 700 nm). As the light availability changes seasonally, the structure of phytoplankton changes as well. Some genera, such as Microcystis, are adapted to low light intensity at 550–650 nm, therefore high values of Kd in this range would indicate the dominance of Microcysts. Other genera, such as Aulacoseira, are highly adapted to harvesting blue-green light with higher intensity and probably grow in lakes with lower concentrations of colored dissolved organic matter that highly absorbs blue light (405–498). These findings are an important step to describing phytoplankton communities using orbital data in tropical freshwater floodplains. Furthermore, this approach can be used with biodiversity indexes to access phytoplankton diversity in these environments.

New Radiometric Approaches to Compute Underwater Irradiances: Potential Applications for High-Resolution and Citizen Science-Based Water Quality Monitoring Programs

Measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd) allows for monitoring the water body’s environmental status. This parameter is of particular interest in water quality monitoring programs because it quantifies the presence of light and the euphotic zone’s depth. Citizen scientists can meaningfully contribute by monitoring water quality, complementing traditional methods by reducing monitoring costs and significantly improving data coverage, empowering and supporting decision-making. However, the quality of the acquisition of in situ underwater irradiance measurements has some limitations, especially in areas where stratification phenomena occur in the first meters of depth. This vertical layering introduces a gradient of properties in the vertical direction, affecting the associated Kd. To detect and characterize these variations of Kd in the water column, it needs a system of optical sensors, ideally placed in a range of a few cm, improving the low vertical accuracy. Despite that, the problem of self-shading on the instrumentation becomes critical. Here, we introduce a new concept that aims to improve the vertical accuracy of the irradiance measurements: the underwater annular irradiance (Ea). This new concept consists of measuring the irradiance in an annular-shaped distribution. We first compute the optimal annular angle that avoids self-shading and maximizes the light captured by the sensors. Second, we use different scenarios of water types, solar zenith angle, and cloud coverage to assess the robustness of the corresponding diffuse attenuation coefficient, Ka. Finally, we derive empirical functions for computing Kd from Ka. This new concept opens the possibility to a new generation of optical sensors in an annular-shaped distribution which is expected to (a) increase the vertical resolution of the irradiance measurements and (b) be easy to deploy and maintain and thus to be more suitable for citizen scientists.

Diurnal Variation of the Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient for Downwelling Irradiance at 490 nm in Coastal East China Sea

The diurnal variation of the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance at 490 nm (Kd(490)) has complex characteristics in the coastal regions. However, owing to the scarcity of in situ data, our knowledge on the diurnal variation is inadequate. In this study, an optical-buoy dataset was used to investigate the diurnal variation of Kd(490) in the coastal East China Sea, and to evaluate the Kd(490) L2 products of geostationary ocean color imager (GOCI), as well as the performance of six empirical algorithms for Kd(490) estimation in the Case-2 water. The results of validation show that there was high uncertainty in GOCI L2 Kd(490), with mean absolute percentage errors (MAPEs) of 69.57% and 68.86% and root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 0.70 and 0.71 m−1 compared to buoy-measured Kd12(490) and Kd13(490), respectively. Meanwhile, with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.71, as well as the lowest MAPE of 27.31% and RMSE of 0.29 m−1, the new dual ratio algorithm (NDRA) performed the best in estimating Kd(490) in the target area, among the six algorithms. Further, four main types of Kd(490) diurnal variation were found from buoy data, showing different variabilities compared to the area closer to the shore. One typical diurnal variation pattern showed that Kd(490) decreased at flood tide and increased at ebb tide, which was confirmed by GOCI images through the use of NDRA. Hydrometeorological factors influencing the diurnal variations of Kd(490) were also studied. In addition to verifying the predominant impact of tide, we found that the dominant effect of tide and wind on the water column is intensifying sediment resuspension, and the change of sediment transport produced by them are secondary to it.

Underwater annular irradiance: New concept to measure the light diffuse attenuation coefficient through the KduSTICK, a Do-It-Yourself device

<p>Measuring water transparency allows us to monitor the water body's environmental status. One parameter to estimate water transparency is the light diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd). This coefficient is of particular interest in water quality monitoring programs.</p><p>The Kd describes the light extinction as function as the depth of downwelling irradiance, Ed. However, self-shading by the instrument itself can cause errors in Ed estimations. To avoid this effect, relative complex structures must be required to install the sensors that limit the vertical resolution of Ed measurements. Here we propose to use optical sensors in an annular-shape distribution to mitigate these limitations. For this, we introduce a new concept: the annular irradiance, Ea. We first compute the optimal angle to avoid self-shading while maximizing the light captured by the sensor. Second, we assess the robustness of the corresponding diffuse attenuation coefficient, Ka, in different scenarios of water types, solar angle and cloud coverage. Finally, we correlate Ka measurements with Kd at PAR region, and we derive empirical functions from translating Ka to Kd measurements.      </p><p>This new coefficient is the basis of the new generation of the KdUINO instrument  (Bardaji et al., 2016) as a KduSTICK, which estimates the near-surface light extinction coefficient based on Ka measurements. Since the design of the instrument avoids self-shading, the device is expected to be particularly useful in those underwater environments where high vertical Ed resolution is required.</p><p>Furthermore, instruments based on this light-sensing approach are much simpler to deploy and maintain, and it is possible to design low-cost and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) versions. All these features facilitate its use for non-academic users, making the KduSTICK an optimal instrument to be used in Citizen Science water quality monitoring programs.</p>

The potential of Sentinel-5P’s high spectral resolution for ocean applications

<p>Hyperspectral satellite data are a source of the top of the atmosphere radiance signal which can be used for novel algorithms aimed for observations of marine ecosystems and the light-lit ocean. Atmospheric sensors such as SCIAMACHY, GOME-2 and OMI have proven in the past to yield valuable information on phytoplankton diversity, sun-induced marine fluorescence, and the underwater light field, however at low coverage and spatial resolution. Within the ESA Sentinel-5p+ Innovation themes, we explore TROPOMI's potential for deriving the diffuse attenuation coefficient and the quantification of different phytoplankton groups. As commonly used for the retrieval of atmospheric trace gases, we apply the differential optical absorption spectroscopy combined with radiative transfer modeling (RTM) to infer these oceanic parameters. We present results on a measure describing the diminishing of incoming radiation in the ocean with depth, the diffuse attenuation coefficient KD. KD is derived by the retrieval of the vibrational Raman scattering signal in backscattered radiances measured by TROPOMI in the UV and spectral range which then is further converted to the associated KD using RTM. The final TROMPOMI KD data sets resolved for three spectral regions (UV-B+short wave UV-A, UV-A and short blue) agree well with in situ data sampled during an expedition with RV Polarstern in 2018 in the Atlantic Ocean.  Further, KD-blue compared to wavelength-converted KD(490nm) products (OLCI-A and the merged OC-CCI) from common, multispectral, ocean color sensors, show that differences between the three data sets are within uncertainties given for the OC-CCI product. Our study shows for the first time KD products for the UV spectral range retrieved from space based data. TROPOMI KD-blue results have higher quality and much higher spatial coverage and resolution than previous ones from SCIAMACHY, GOME-2 and OMI.  Additionally, first results on TROPOMI’s potential for retrieving three phytoplankton groups will be shown and compared to similar multispectral phytoplankton group data for the same time period and ocean region as shown for TROPOMI KD.</p>

A New Algorithm to Estimate Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient from Secchi Disk Depth

The vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient Kd (PAR) is used for calculating the euphotic zone, the first optical depth that is important for primary productivity models. Currently, Kd (PAR) can be estimated using an irradiometer or a Secchi disk (SD). The main objective of this work is to define a model that can be applied to a wide range of optical marine conditions to estimate Kd (PAR) by SD. We used irradiance profiles and SD depth (ZSD) from 679 stations in various marine regions. Three parametric models were developed, and their statistical performance was evaluated in view of previous approaches reported and remote sensing data. The best results were obtained with an adaptive model representing three cases: clear-water, turbid-water, and a transition zone (R2 = 0.965, MAE = 0.083, RMSD = 0.239, BIAS = 0.01, and MPI = 0.854). Previous models considering a single optical depth figure at which the SD disappears did not capture the marine optical complexity. Our classification of 113 stations with spectral absorption data into Jerlov water types indicated that no unique correspondence existed between estimated Kd (PAR) and water type, making it ambiguous to associate compatible inherent optical properties and chlorophyll with ZSD. Although obtaining Kd (PAR) from ZSD is simple/low-cost, care should be taken in the methodology used to measure ZSD to ensure consistent results across different optical marine conditions.

Seasonal Variability of Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient in the Pearl River Estuary from Long-Term Remote Sensing Imagery

We evaluated six empirical and semianalytical models of the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd(490)) using an in situ dataset collected in the Pearl River estuary (PRE). A combined model with the most accurate performance (correlation coefficient, R2 = 0.92) was selected and applied for long-term estimation from 2003 to 2017. Physical and biological processes in the PRE over the 14-year period were investigated by applying satellite observations (MODIS/Aqua data) and season-reliant empirical orthogonal function analysis (S-EOF). In winter, the average Kd(490) was significantly higher than in the other three seasons. A slight increasing trend was observed in spring and summer, whereas a decreasing trend was observed in winter. In summer, a tongue with a relatively high Kd(490) was found in southeastern Lingdingyang Bay. In Eastern Guangdong province (GDP), the relatively higher Kd(490) value was found in autumn and winter. Based on the second mode of S-EOF, we found that the higher values in the eastern GDP extended westward and formed a distinguishable tongue in winter. The grey relational analysis revealed that chlorophyll-a concentration (Cchla) and total suspended sediment concentration (Ctsm) were two dominant contributors determining the magnitude of Kd(490) values. The Ctsm-dominated waters were generally located in coastal and estuarine turbid waters; the Cchla-dominated waters were observed in open clear ocean. The distribution of constituents-dominated area was different in the four seasons, which was affected by physical forces, including wind field, river runoff, and sea surface temperature.