IES shares water research knowledge in the International Society of Limnology Congress in China

From the 19th to 24th of August 2018, Nanjing in China hosted one of the biggest lake research conferences in the World – XXXIV International Society of Limnology Congress, where the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) together with the Tartu Observatory shared knowledge in research on optical water types of inland waters from satellites.

Participants of the congress were able to learn how research on optical water types helps to monitor the water quality of inland waters from satellites. In 2017, IES researchers investigated optical water types on Estonian and Latvian lakes based on Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 data. Calassification shows that different optical water types have different remote sensing reflectance spectrum, and each water type is associated with specific bio-optical condition. Therefore, it is possible to use satellite based remote sensing to measure quality of waters.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in use of remote sensing and satellite data to research quality of inland waterbodies. Moreover, classification of optical water types helps to clarify relationships between different lake parameters. However, to improve and approve the usefulness of this method, researchers need to develop repeatable and constant evidence-based conclusions. IES researchers will continue to work on the satellite-based lake research. The results and conclusions will be showcased in the next news, as well as presented in lake research conferences and other events.

The research is a part of the project “ICT-based remote sensing tool for retrieving water quality products for lake research and monitoring” (FLUID), No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/137. Agreement with State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia No. 1.1.1.2/16/I/001. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and partly funded by State budget and the Institute for Environmental Solutions.

Find more about the FLUID project here.