Use of Imaging Spectrometry for Turbidity Analysis in Nearshore/Estuarine Waters

This is an award to provide support for research on the utility of airborne imaging spectrometry in quantitative analysis of eutrophication-related water quality parameters. Objectives of this project are to identify the optical bands that describe organic and inorganic constituents of interest in judging water quality and to correlate these measurements with concentrations of suspended sediment and chlorophyll-a. The planned test-site for model development in this project is the Hudson/Raritan River Estuary and coastal waters of New Jersey. The proposal leading to this award was submitted in accord with Program Announcement NSF 90-121, Research Planning Grants and Career Advancement Awards for Women Scientists and Engineers. It addresses the potential use of a remote-sensing concept that would complement or conceivably replace the need for extensive sampling of coastal waters in establishing their quality and determining changes that result from an influx of pollutants from streams discharging to coastal waters. Results of this research may be applied in engineering design of coastal pollution abatement facilities.