Estimation of Water Quality Parameters Along the Indian Coast Using Satellite Observations

Abstract

Coastal regions across the world are the most densely populated areas that exert significant pressure on the water quality of the region. The rapid urbanization and industrialization add increasingly to the pollutants that alter the coastal water quality. Operational monitoring of water quality is exhaustive and cost-sensitive exercise that is imperative for sustainable management. With the advent of numerous high-resolution satellites and open data policies being followed by various space agencies, remote sensing of water quality has become robust and an important technique for researchers and managers. Chlorophyll-a concentration suspended sediment concentration and turbidity are some of the water quality parameters that could be derived from the satellite observations. The present study addresses the assessment of water quality using remote sensing for selected locations along the east coast (Hooghly estuary) and the west coast (Cochin backwaters). The impact of tropical cyclone 'Bulbul' on the water quality of the Hooghly estuary and the effect of COVID-19 induced lockdown during 2020 for the Cochin backwaters are considered as case studies to demonstrate the application of satellite remote sensing in the estimation of coastal water quality parameters.