Biogeochemical Water Quality from SPACE
Explore ocean color data products from NASA's PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission. Visualize time-series data for various ocean parameters.
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a)
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a; mg m-3) is a photosynthetic pigment in algae and cyanobacteria and serves as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass in aquatic ecosystems.
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Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM)
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) is the light-absorbing fraction of dissolved organic matter that strongly influences underwater light fields, and CDOM absorption (aCDOM; m-1) serves as a key indicator of blackwater systems rich in humic substances.
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Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total suspended solids (TSS; mg m-3) concentration represents the abundance of non-algal particles. In rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters, TSS is a key indicator of turbidity and is widely used in water quality monitoring and remote sensing applications.
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This work acknowledges funding support from the NASA PACE program (80NSSC24K1415) and the NASA PACE Early Adopter Program.
Partners
This effort also leveraged resources from the NASA EMIT program (80NSSC24K0865) for algorithm development, portal design, and end-user engagement, as well as from the National Science Foundation (NSF; 2425811 and 2425812). Product validation was further supported by the USACE ERDC Freshwater HAB Program and the NOAA NCCOS Hypoxia Program (Grant NA23NOS4780285). We also acknowledge support from NASA's Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) project for estuarine water quality product validation.
End Users
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) provided collaboration and support for the development and application of PACE-OCI water quality products in Louisiana to enhance water quality monitoring.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) supports this project as a tool for consideration in fisheries management decision-making related to possible environmental changes from phytoplankton community shifts along Louisiana's Coast.
Angelina Freeman participated in this project in an advisory capacity as a representative of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).
Andrew Barron, Senior Scientist at the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), participated in this project to help identify water quality issues in support of the conservation and management Plan.
Disclaimer
The statements, findings, and conclusions presented herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the funding agencies, end user organizations, or the State of Louisiana.