A manual for remote sensing of Maine lake clarity

Abstract

The purpose of this manual is to support use of satellite-based remote sensing for statewide lake water-quality monitoring in Maine. The authors describe step-by-step methods that combine Landsat and MODIS satellite data with field-collected Secchi disk data for statewide assessment of lake water clarity. Landsat can be simul­taneously used to assess more than Maine 1,000 lakes ≥ 8 ha, whereas MODIS can be used to assess a maximum of 364 lakes ≥ 100 ha (250-m image resolution) or 83 lakes ≥ 400 ha (500-m image resolution). Although the methods were specifically developed for Maine, other states or non-Maine agen­cies may find these methods as useful starting points in developing their own protocols for regional remote lake monitoring.