Abstract
Trophic status (TS) is a water quality indicator effectively determined from Secchi Disk Depth (SDD). SDD is an in situ method of determining water clarity which is cumbersome, expensive and limited in time and space. This prompted the exploration of satellite imagery which provides a means around these challenges. Whereas algorithms for SDD retrieval from satellite imagery have been developed, their performance has not been tested on Lake Victoria. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the best SDD retrieval algorithm for MODIS satellite imagery from which the lake’s SDD and TS were determined. To this effect, five algorithms were explored and their output was compared to the in situ data collected on 27 July 2015. The multi band model performed best with a R2 of 0.709, RMSD of 0.295 m, RPD of 29.278% and bias of 0.593 m. This algorithm was applied to MODIS Aqua monthly and yearly aggregates from 2013 to 2017 and the trophic status was determined using Carlson’s Trophic Status Index (CTSI). The outputs showed that the water closer to the lake’s shore had a shallower SDD as compared to that in the middle of the lake and the CTSI values indicated that the lake presents as mesotrophic with persistent eutrophic hotspots at the shoreline. It was concluded that Lake Victoria was exhibiting water quality issues and recommended that they are dealt with to prevent its further degradation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cheng, K., Lei, T.: Reservoir trophic state evaluation using Landsat TM data. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 37(5), 1321–1334 (2012)
Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan. Lake Water Quality Report, Appendix E, pp. 1–5 (2004)
Gholizade, M.H., Melesse, A.M., Reddi, L.: Comprehensive review on water quality parameters estimation using remote sensing techniques. Sensors. 16(18), 1–43 (2016)
Haseena, M., Malik, M.F.: Water pollution and human health. Environ. Risk Assess. Remediat. 1(3), 16–19 (2017)
Kahru, M., Kudela, R., Anderson, C., Manzano-Sarabia, M., Mitchell, B.: Evaluation of satellite retrievals of ocean chlorophyll a in the California Current. Remote Sens. 6(9), 8524–8540 (2014)
Knight, J.F., Voth, M.L.: Application of MODIS imagery for intra-annual water clarity: assessment of Minnesota Lakes. Remote Sens. 4(7), 2181–2198 (2012)
Kolding, J., Zwieten, P.V., Mkumbo, O., Silsbe, G., Hecky, R.: Are the Lake Victoria fisheries threatened by exploitation or eutrophication? Towards an ecosystem based approach to management’. In: Bianchi, G., Skjoldal, H.R. (eds.) The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, pp. 309–350. FAO, CAB International, Rome (2008)
Kratzer, S., Harvey, E.T., Petra, P.: The use of ocean colour remote sensing in integrated coastal zone management – a case study from Himmerfjärden, Sweden. Mar. Policy. 43, 29–39 (2014)
Lee, Z.P., Du, K., Arnone, R.: A model for the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance. J. Geophys. Res. 110, 1–10 (2005)
Lee, Z.P., Shang, S., Hu, C., Du, K., Weidemann, A., Hou, W., Lin, J., Lin, G.: Secchi disk depth: a new theory and mechanistic model for underwater visibility. Remote Sens. Environ. 169, 139–149 (2015)
Lung’ayia, H.B.O., M’Harzi, A., Tackx, M., Gichuki, J., Symoens, J.: Phytoplankton community structure and environment in the Kenyan waters of Lake Victoria. Freshw. Biol. 43(4), 529–543 (2000)
Morrison, J., Morikawa, M., Murphy, M., Schulte, P.: Water Scarcity and Climate Change: Growing Risks for Businesses and Investors. Ceres, Boston, MA (2009)
Mueller, J.L. SeaWIFS Algorithm for the Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient, K(490), Using Water-Leaving Radiances at 490 and 555 nm, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, Greenbelt, MD, USA, pp. 24–27 (2000)
Petra, P., Kratzer, S., Selima, B.M., Strömbeck, N., Stelzer, K.: Satellite-based water quality monitoring in Lake Vänern, Sweden. Int. J. Remote Sens. 37(16), 3938–3960 (2016)
Shang, S., Lee, Z., Shi, L., Lin, G., Wei, G., Li, X.: Changes in water clarity of the Bohai Sea: observations from MODIS. Remote Sens. Environ. 186, 22–31 (2016)
Ssebiyonga, N., Erga, S.R., Hamre, B., Stamnes, J.J., Frette, O.: Light conditions and photosynthetic efficiency of phytoplankton in Murchison Bay, Lake Victoria, Uganda. Limnologica. 43(3), 185–193 (2012)
Understanding Water Quality, Score Water-Quality Tutorial. http://score.dnr.sc.gov/ktmlpro10/files/uploads/elearning/Understanding_Water_Clarity.pdf (n.d.). Accessed 7 May 2018
Yu, D.F., Xing, Q.G., Lou, M.J., Shi, P.: Retrieval of Secchi disk depth in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea using 8-day MODIS data. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 17, 1–4 (2014)
Ziboon, A.R.T., Al Zubaidy, R.Z., Al Khafaji, M.: Remote sensing model for monitoring trophic state of Al Huweizah Marsh. Eng. Technol. J. 28(16), 5213–5222 (2010)
Acknowledgements
I acknowledge financial support through an IEEE GRSS/AARSE TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kintu, I.M., Gidudu, A., Letaru, L. (2019). Assessment of Lake Victoria’s Trophic Status Using Satellite-Derived Secchi Disk Depth. In: Wade, S. (eds) Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in Service of Sustainable Development Goals. Southern Space Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16016-6_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16016-6_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16015-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16016-6
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)