Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy

With the growing demand for global water environment monitoring, satellite laser altimeters (SLA) have considerable advantages for underwater measurements. However, changes in suspended solids, turbidity, and other optical properties of water affect the propagation of SLA laser pulses in water. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qingkai Lu, Jianjun Wu, Chen Ma, Haobin Xia, Siqin Zhang, Haojun Xu, Feng Gan, Zimeng Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1592962/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849712036909416448
author Qingkai Lu
Jianjun Wu
Jianjun Wu
Chen Ma
Chen Ma
Haobin Xia
Siqin Zhang
Haojun Xu
Feng Gan
Zimeng Zhao
author_facet Qingkai Lu
Jianjun Wu
Jianjun Wu
Chen Ma
Chen Ma
Haobin Xia
Siqin Zhang
Haojun Xu
Feng Gan
Zimeng Zhao
author_sort Qingkai Lu
collection DOAJ
description With the growing demand for global water environment monitoring, satellite laser altimeters (SLA) have considerable advantages for underwater measurements. However, changes in suspended solids, turbidity, and other optical properties of water affect the propagation of SLA laser pulses in water. This can affect the accuracy and reliability of the measurements. This study analyzed the impact of water quality changes in the Oahu Island region of Hawaii on the accuracy of SLA un-derwater measurements based on ICESat-2, MODIS, Landsat-8, and in situ data. Underwater photons were obtained from ICESat-2 ATL03 data through an Adaptive Elevation Difference Threshold, combined with in situ data to calculate the potential altimetry deviation. Using the water quality data inverted from Landsat-8 as a reference, MODIS kd490 was implemented through random forest regression. The impact of water quality changes on the SLA accuracy was quantified by combining the altimetry bias and water quality data that matched the laser footprint. There is a positive correlation between water quality and photon water permeability. The more turbid the water quality, the smaller the proportion of photons that can penetrate the water surface. The maximum measurement deviation caused by multiple scattering of the water body could reach the meter level. Future underwater bathymetry corrections need to consider the impact of multiple scattering. The findings are of considerable importance for environmental protection, resource management, policy formulation, and SLA data processing.
format Article
id doaj-art-a8e7c3d7abb64a459a5c09415256b632
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-665X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Environmental Science
spelling doaj-art-a8e7c3d7abb64a459a5c09415256b6322025-08-20T03:14:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15929621592962Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracyQingkai Lu0Jianjun Wu1Jianjun Wu2Chen Ma3Chen Ma4Haobin Xia5Siqin Zhang6Haojun Xu7Feng Gan8Zimeng Zhao9Academy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaFaculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Research Center of Satellite Technology, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaLand Satellite Remote Sensing Application Center (LASAC), Ministry of Natural Resources of P.R. China, Beijing, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaAcademy of Ecological Civilization Development for JING-JIN-JI, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaWith the growing demand for global water environment monitoring, satellite laser altimeters (SLA) have considerable advantages for underwater measurements. However, changes in suspended solids, turbidity, and other optical properties of water affect the propagation of SLA laser pulses in water. This can affect the accuracy and reliability of the measurements. This study analyzed the impact of water quality changes in the Oahu Island region of Hawaii on the accuracy of SLA un-derwater measurements based on ICESat-2, MODIS, Landsat-8, and in situ data. Underwater photons were obtained from ICESat-2 ATL03 data through an Adaptive Elevation Difference Threshold, combined with in situ data to calculate the potential altimetry deviation. Using the water quality data inverted from Landsat-8 as a reference, MODIS kd490 was implemented through random forest regression. The impact of water quality changes on the SLA accuracy was quantified by combining the altimetry bias and water quality data that matched the laser footprint. There is a positive correlation between water quality and photon water permeability. The more turbid the water quality, the smaller the proportion of photons that can penetrate the water surface. The maximum measurement deviation caused by multiple scattering of the water body could reach the meter level. Future underwater bathymetry corrections need to consider the impact of multiple scattering. The findings are of considerable importance for environmental protection, resource management, policy formulation, and SLA data processing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1592962/fullsatellite laser altimetryunderwater surveywater qualitysatellite remote sensingICESat-2
spellingShingle Qingkai Lu
Jianjun Wu
Jianjun Wu
Chen Ma
Chen Ma
Haobin Xia
Siqin Zhang
Haojun Xu
Feng Gan
Zimeng Zhao
Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
Frontiers in Environmental Science
satellite laser altimetry
underwater survey
water quality
satellite remote sensing
ICESat-2
title Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
title_full Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
title_fullStr Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
title_full_unstemmed Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
title_short Influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
title_sort influence of water quality on satellite laser altimeter underwater measurement accuracy
topic satellite laser altimetry
underwater survey
water quality
satellite remote sensing
ICESat-2
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1592962/full
work_keys_str_mv AT qingkailu influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT jianjunwu influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT jianjunwu influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT chenma influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT chenma influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT haobinxia influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT siqinzhang influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT haojunxu influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT fenggan influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy
AT zimengzhao influenceofwaterqualityonsatellitelaseraltimeterunderwatermeasurementaccuracy