Authors: Jilin Men – The University of Alabama
Title: Quickly Mapping Water Quality Parameters with Google Earth Engine
Presentation Type: Lightning Talk
Abstract: We present a rapid water quality mapping tool developed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, designed to support global-scale applications using multispectral satellite data. The tool is compatible with Landsat-8/9 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI imagery, enabling efficient and consistent monitoring of inland and nearshore water bodies. Atmospheric correction is performed using ACOLITE, which is optimized for aquatic environments and ensures accurate retrieval of aquatic reflectance. The tool provides estimates of key water quality parameters, including chlorophyll-a concentration, total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Water quality retrieval is driven by models developed and calibrated through the GLObal Reflectance community dataset for Imaging and optical sensing of Aquatic environments (GLORIA) dataset. By leveraging GEE’s cloud-based computing capabilities and satellite data archives, our tool allows for quick processing and visualization of water quality dynamics without the need for local infrastructure.