Annual and inter-annual variability in the diffuse attenuation coefficient and turbidity in an urbanized Washington lake from 2013 to 2022 assessed using Landsat-8/9

Remote Sensing
By: , and 

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Abstract

Water clarity, defined in this study using measurements of the downwelling diffuse light attenuation coefficient (Kd) and turbidity, is an important indicator of lake trophic status and ecosystem health. We used in-situ measurements to evaluate existing semi-analytical models for Kd and turbidity, developed a regional turbidity model based on spectral shape, and evaluated the spatial and temporal trends in Lake Washington from 2013 to 2022 using Landsat-8/9 Operational Land Imager (OLI). We found no significant trends from 2013 to 2022 in Kd or turbidity when both the annual and full datasets were considered. In addition to the spring peak lasting from April through June, autumn Kd peaks were present at all sites, a pattern consistent with seasonal chlorophyll a and zooplankton concentrations. There existed no autumn peak in the monthly turbidity dataset, and the spring peak occurred two months before the Kd peak, nearly mirroring seasonal variability in the Cedar River discharge rates over the same period. The Kd and turbidity algorithms were thus each more sensitive to different sources of water clarity variability in Lake Washington.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Annual and inter-annual variability in the diffuse attenuation coefficient and turbidity in an urbanized Washington lake from 2013 to 2022 assessed using Landsat-8/9
Series title Remote Sensing
DOI 10.3390/rs15205055
Volume 15
Issue 20
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher MPDI
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 5055, 19 p.
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Lake Washington
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