Using Multi-temporal MODIS
250 m Data to Calibrate and
Validate a Sediment Transport
Model for Environmental
Monitoring of Coastal Waters
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Richard L. Miller, Carlos E. Del Castillo
NASA, Applied Sciences Directorate, SSC
Chandrasekhar Chilmakuri, A. Alex McCorquodale, Ioannis Georgiou
FMI Center for Environmental Modeling, University of New Orleans
Brent A. McKee
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University
Eurico J. D’Sa
Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University
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Importance of Suspended Sediments
High concentrations of suspended materials directly affect many water column
and benthic processes such as phytoplankton productivity, coral growth,
productivity of submerged aquatic vegetation, nutrient dynamics, and the
transport of pollutants and other materials.
Knowing the concentration, spatial distribution, and dynamics of
suspended sediments in coastal aquatic systems is an important goal of
many research and environmental monitoring programs.
The distribution and flux of suspended sediments is highly variable in coastal
environments and vary over a broad spectrum of time and space scales.
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Space Observations & Modeling
Traditional field measurements can not effectively monitor suspended sediments
at the desired spatial and temporal scales
Use of remote sensing technology to map suspended sediment is well documented.
Problems with clouds, spatial resolution, and revisit time.
Use of numerical models for environmental studies is also widely documented.
No problem with clouds – however, limited observations for boundary and
initial conditions.
Potential solution – combine remote sensing and numerical model.
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MODIS 250 m Data
• MODIS Terra (morning) and Aqua (afternoon)
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MODIS 250 m Data
• MODIS Terra (morning) and Aqua (afternoon)
• ca 1 ½ day revisit time
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MODIS 250 m Data
• MODIS Terra (morning) and Aqua (afternoon)
• ca 1 ½ day revisit time
• TSM vs. MODIS Terra (Miller and McKee, 2004)
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r2 = 0.96
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TSM (mg/l)
40
30
20
10
TSM = -1.91 * 1140.25(MODIS Band 1)
0
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
MODIS Terra 250 m Band 1 Reflectance (%)
0.06
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MODIS 250 m Data
• MODIS Terra (morning) and Aqua (afternoon)
• ca 1 ½ day revisit time
• TSM vs. MODIS Terra (Miller and McKee, 2004)
Band 1
620 – 670 nm
SSC MODIS X-band ground station
Band 2
841 – 876 nm
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ECOMSED Model
The Estuarine Coastal and Ocean Modeling System with Sediment, ECOMSED,
is a derivative model from the Princeton Ocean Model (POM).
Has a comprehensive sediment model that simulates the combined effects of
currents and waves on the resuspension and settling of inorganic particles.
Hydrodynamics and the transport components of the model have been calibrated
and validated for Lake Pontchartrain, the sediment transport module of the
model has not.
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Case Study: Lake Pontchartrain, LA
• shallow urbanized estuary
• wind-driven resuspension and sediment transport
• transport of pollutants / fecal coliform (human health)
• nursery to many fish species
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Multi-temporal MODIS Images
Terra
Aqua
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ECOMSED vs. MODIS TSM
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Conclusions and Future Work
The ECOMSED model calibration was significantly improved using multitemporal TSM images derived from MODIS 250 m images
The model captured the general spatial distribution as indicated in the MODIS
images; however, the model tended to over-estimate suspended sediment
concentrations in shallow areas.
Future improvements include: field samples to better calibrate MODIS images
(i.e., Aqua), field studies to better define the spatial variation in the sediment
parameters in the numerical model, and modifying the model to accept
spatially varying sediment and wind fields.
Conduct numerical model simulations and processed image data to provide
reliable estimates of storm water discharge and fecal coliform distributions.
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NASA
Research
Spacecraft
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Planet Earth - a Dynamic System
Forces acting on
the Earth system
Earth system
responses
IMPACTS
Feedbacks
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Overarching Science Questions
How is the Earth changing and what are
the consequences of life on Earth?
How is the global Earth system changing?
What are the primary forcings of the Earth
system?
How does the Earth system respond to
natural and human-induced changes?
What are the consequences of changes in
the Earth system for human civilization?
How well can we predict future changes in
the Earth system?
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Earth-Sun System Science
Applications of National Priority
Aviation
Carbon
Management
Disaster
Management
Ecological
Forecasting
Energy
Management
Invasive Species
Public Health
Agricultural
Efficiency
Air Quality
Coastal
Management
Homeland
Security
Water
Management
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Integrating Knowledge, Capacity and
Systems into Solutions
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Application Focus Areas and Partners
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