Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data
Suspended sediment dynamics of Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA, a shallow-water wind-driven estuary, were investigated by combining field and satellite measurements of total suspended solids (TSS). An algorithm was developed to transform 500-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2017.00233/full |
| _version_ | 1819125652197998592 |
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| author | Anthony Reisinger James C. Gibeaut Phillippe E. Tissot |
| author_facet | Anthony Reisinger James C. Gibeaut Phillippe E. Tissot |
| author_sort | Anthony Reisinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Suspended sediment dynamics of Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA, a shallow-water wind-driven estuary, were investigated by combining field and satellite measurements of total suspended solids (TSS). An algorithm was developed to transform 500-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite reflectance data into estimated TSS values. The algorithm was developed using a reflectance ratio regression of MODIS Band 1 (red) and Band 3 (green) with TSS measurements (n = 54) collected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for Corpus Christi Bay and other Texas estuaries. The algorithm was validated by independently collected TSS measurements during the period of 2011–2014 with an uncertainty estimate of 13%. The algorithm was applied to the period of 2002–2014 to create a synoptic time series of TSS for Corpus Christi Bay. Potential drivers of long-term variability in suspended sediment were investigated. Median and IQR composites of suspended sediments were generated for seasonal wind regimes. From this analysis it was determined that long-term, spatial patterns of suspended sediment in the estuary are related to wind-wave resuspension during the predominant northerly and prevalent southeasterly seasonal wind regimes. The impact of dredging is also apparent in long-term patterns of Corpus Christi Bay as concentrations of suspended sediments over dredge spoil disposal sites are higher and more variable than surrounding areas, which is most likely due to their less consolidated sediments and shallower depths requiring less wave energy for sediment resuspension. This study highlights the advantage of how long-synoptic time series of TSS can be used to elucidate the major drivers of suspended sediments in estuaries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:43:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-38ce988b40d1432fa810b9adb8592e56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:43:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-38ce988b40d1432fa810b9adb8592e562022-12-21T18:33:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452017-12-01410.3389/fmars.2017.00233261284Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite DataAnthony Reisinger0James C. Gibeaut1Phillippe E. Tissot2Coastal and Marine Geospatial Laboratory, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United StatesCoastal and Marine Geospatial Laboratory, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United StatesConrad Blucher Institute, Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United StatesSuspended sediment dynamics of Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA, a shallow-water wind-driven estuary, were investigated by combining field and satellite measurements of total suspended solids (TSS). An algorithm was developed to transform 500-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite reflectance data into estimated TSS values. The algorithm was developed using a reflectance ratio regression of MODIS Band 1 (red) and Band 3 (green) with TSS measurements (n = 54) collected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for Corpus Christi Bay and other Texas estuaries. The algorithm was validated by independently collected TSS measurements during the period of 2011–2014 with an uncertainty estimate of 13%. The algorithm was applied to the period of 2002–2014 to create a synoptic time series of TSS for Corpus Christi Bay. Potential drivers of long-term variability in suspended sediment were investigated. Median and IQR composites of suspended sediments were generated for seasonal wind regimes. From this analysis it was determined that long-term, spatial patterns of suspended sediment in the estuary are related to wind-wave resuspension during the predominant northerly and prevalent southeasterly seasonal wind regimes. The impact of dredging is also apparent in long-term patterns of Corpus Christi Bay as concentrations of suspended sediments over dredge spoil disposal sites are higher and more variable than surrounding areas, which is most likely due to their less consolidated sediments and shallower depths requiring less wave energy for sediment resuspension. This study highlights the advantage of how long-synoptic time series of TSS can be used to elucidate the major drivers of suspended sediments in estuaries.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2017.00233/fullsuspended sedimentsMODISwind-driven estuarywind-wave resuspensionCorpus Christi Baydredging influence |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Reisinger James C. Gibeaut Phillippe E. Tissot Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data Frontiers in Marine Science suspended sediments MODIS wind-driven estuary wind-wave resuspension Corpus Christi Bay dredging influence |
| title | Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data |
| title_full | Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data |
| title_fullStr | Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data |
| title_short | Estuarine Suspended Sediment Dynamics: Observations Derived from over a Decade of Satellite Data |
| title_sort | estuarine suspended sediment dynamics observations derived from over a decade of satellite data |
| topic | suspended sediments MODIS wind-driven estuary wind-wave resuspension Corpus Christi Bay dredging influence |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2017.00233/full |
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