MONITORING WATER QUALITY IN CHINA VIA REMOTELY-SENSED DATA*

摘要

The Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) is interested in investigatingalternative and cost-effective methods for conducting their water quality monitoring programs.China has numerous impaired water bodies covering vast areas. Monitoring of these water bodiesbenefits from cost-effective methods of wide area surveillance. D'Appolonia S.p.A. has worked withSEPA for several years to assist them in utilization of technologically advanced methods ofenvironmental monitoring. D'Appolonia and Applied Analysis Inc. (AAI) teamed together to assistSEPA in fulfilling their water quality monitoring needs.AAI developed water quality monitoring software based on years of spectral research andexperience in spectral analysis algorithm development. The Quantitative Shoreline Characterization(QSC2) process utilizes subpixel analysis software to compensate automatically for atmosphericeffects, sun and sky reflections from the water surface, subpixel contributions from exposed land,and variations in bottom material properties. The software allows for a direct measurement of thescene-averaged water column characteristics, enabling accurate and uniform water columncharacterization and scene-to-scene analysis. AAI processed three historical Landsat TM images ofChina using QSC2. The parameters quantified included suspended chlorophyll, suspended minerals,colored dissolved organic carbon, and Secchi depth.