Monitoring Optically Complex Inland and Coastal Waters in the Context of EU WFD by Means of Satellite Derived Products
Alikas, Krista¹; Kangro, Kersti¹; Reinart, Anu^2
1Tartu Observatory, Estonian University of Life Sciences, ESTONIA; ²Tartu Observatory, ESTONIA

The current status of a water body can be described by various biological quality elements defined by the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD). The need for unified monitoring of inland and coastal waters has resulted in the WFD to restore and protect water bodies from further degradation. The WFD has associated each measurable parameter with criterias/thresholds in order to classify the status of the waterbody and plan for further actions. From these important ecological parameters, we selected 1) phytoplankton biomass; 2) cyanobacterial biomass; 3-4) frequency and intensity of blooms; 5) chlorophyll a concentration; 6) water transparency and additionally 7) water temperature which are all regarded essential parameters in conventional monitoring programmes and the need to monitor them has been highlighted. The objective of this research is to make use of MERIS and (A)ATSR data to produce a satellite-based dataset of the above mentioned parameters. These parameters could be used as an additional source of information for traditional water monitoring program in the context of the WFD. The parameters are validated over European large lakes (L. Peipsi, L. Vôrtsjarv, L. Vänern, L. Vättern) and the coastal areas in the Baltic Sea. Each satellite derived parameter was validated against in-situ measured values and error estimates were calculated. Time series based on satellite data and data retrieved from regional monitoring datasets were compiled and compared. Furthermore, the classification index for each waterbody according to satellite or/and insitu data was analysed.