The use of hyper-spectral remote sensing in compliance monitoring of water quality (phytoplankton and suspended particles) at 'hot spot' areas (Mediterranean coast of Israel)

The quality of marine waters depends to a large extent on the density of phytoplankton (as chlorophyll a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM), and their composition. The water quality at two 'hot spot' areas along the Mediterranean coast of Israel was mapped with the hyper-spectral Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) sensor during two airborne campaigns (April 1997 and October 1999). The present study demonstrates the advantage of hyper-spectral remote sensing techniques as a rapid synoptic monitoring tool in coastal sites affected by land-based point sources of nutrients and particles. The coastal sites are characterized by patchy distribution and sharp concentration changes of SPM and Chl a. It is suggested that integration of CASI in compliance monitoring at 'hot spot' areas can provide vital information on the state of the environment and on the effectiveness of pollution control measures taken.