HYPERMAQ - Hyperspectral and multi-mission high resolution optical remote sensing of aquatic environments

Algorithms for remote sensing of suspended particulate matter and chlorophyll concentration are quite mature and applications relating to coastal sediment transport and environmental monitoring are routinely using satellite data. The challenge for researchers is now to estimate more than just concentration. Sediment transport users want spatial and temporal information on particle size and composition. Marine biologists and water quality managers want information on phytoplankton and benthic community composition, which is particularly difficult to obtain from remote sensing in turbid waters. The advent of spaceborne hyperspectral instruments offers the potential to yield more information on aquatic particles, both algal and non-algal.In the HYPERMAQ project, algorithms will be developed for hyperspectral sensors to retrieve information on particle size and type, and, where possible, species of micro-and macro-algae.Fieldwork to calibrate and validate these algorithms will be made in Belgian coastal and inland waters with intensive measurements of micro-and macro-algae and non-algal particles. Continuous measurements will also be made for satellite product validation, supported by the design of azimuthally rotating hyperspectral spectroradiometer systems deployed on platforms and buoys.International partners from Argentina and China and France will contribute expertise by participating in Belgian fieldwork and hosting fieldwork in their own regions and by supplying/testing algorithms from/to their own regions to assess generality and any need for regional calibration.

悬浮颗粒物与叶绿素浓度遥感反演算法已相当成熟，海岸泥沙运移与环境监测相关应用已常规采用卫星数据。当前研究者面临的挑战已不止于浓度反演：泥沙运移研究人员需要获取颗粒物粒径与组成的时空分布信息；海洋生物学家与水质管理者则需要获取浮游植物（phytoplankton）和底栖生物群落（benthic community）的组成信息，但在浑浊水体中通过遥感手段获取这类信息尤为困难。星载高光谱仪器（spaceborne hyperspectral instruments）的问世，为获取藻类与非藻类水生颗粒物的更多信息提供了可能。在HYPERMAQ项目中，研究人员将针对高光谱传感器开发反演算法，以获取颗粒物粒径、类型信息，在条件允许的情况下还可反演微藻与大型藻类的物种信息。项目将在比利时沿岸及内陆水域开展野外工作，通过对微藻、大型藻类及非藻类颗粒物进行密集测量，完成上述算法的标定与验证。为支撑卫星产品验证工作，项目还将开展持续观测，并将部署搭载于观测平台与浮标的方位角旋转式高光谱光谱辐射计（hyperspectral spectroradiometer）系统。来自阿根廷、中国与法国的国际合作伙伴将通过以下方式提供技术支持：参与比利时境内的野外工作、在本国区域开展野外作业，以及为本国区域开发或测试算法，以评估算法的通用性及区域标定的必要性。