Water Turbidity
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EO Capability Benefits
Turbidity is a key water quality parameter that measures water clarity, quantifying its “cloudiness” or haziness due to suspended particles like sediment, algae, and microorganisms. High turbidity reduces sunlight penetration, impacting photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems and potentially altering temperatures and oxygen levels in deeper water layers. High turbidity, often due to silt, algae, or industrial waste, can result from various human activities, including mining, logging, and industrial operations. Monitoring turbidity is essential for assessing water pollution: higher turbidity levels can have increasingly harmful effects on marine and freshwater ecosystems, and on the quality of drinking water.
EO Capability Description
Traditionally, turbidity is assessed by analysing water samples collected in the field; this process is, however, time-consuming, costly, and labour-intensive. Field sampling can also be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances.
In these cases, satellite remote sensing offers a valuable alternative that allows us to monitor turbidity over large areas and over time, capturing both spatial and temporal variations across water bodies. This approach enables efficient, broad-scale monitoring of water turbidity, supporting ongoing water quality management even when field surveys are impractical.
