Coordinating in situ lake sampling with satellite acquisition days provides a mechanism for addressing data scarcity: a case study from Lake Yojoa, Honduras

Abstract: Aim In this study, we present the results of a project which used Landsat Collection 2 Surface Reflectance data and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) data to develop a machine learning model to estimate Secchi depth in Lake Yojoa, Honduras. M...

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Main Authors: Jemma Fadum, Bethel Steele, Matthew Ross, Mia Groff, Ed Hall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Limnologia 2025-02-01
Series:Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-975X2025000101000&lng=en&tlng=en
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Summary:Abstract: Aim In this study, we present the results of a project which used Landsat Collection 2 Surface Reflectance data and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) data to develop a machine learning model to estimate Secchi depth in Lake Yojoa, Honduras. Methods Satellite remote sensing data obtained within a 7-day window of an in situ measurement were matched with in situ Secchi depth measurements and were partitioned into train-test-validate data sets for model development. Results The machine learning model had good (R2= 0.57) agreement and reasonable uncertainty (MAE = 0.58 m) between remotely estimated and in situ observed Secchi depth. Application of the machine learning model increased the monitoring record of Lake Yojoa from 6 years of measured data to a 23-year record. Conclusions This model demonstrates the utility of coordinating in situ sampling schedules of short-term research projects with satellite imagery acquisition schedules in order to increase the temporal coverage of remote sensing derived estimates of water quality in understudied lakes.
ISSN:2179-975X