Monitoring and validating spatio-temporal dynamics of biogeochemical properties in Mersin Bay (Turkey) using Landsat ETM+.

The objective of this study was to devise and validate simple models for estimating spatio-temporal dynamics of seven optically (in)active biogeochemical properties in Mersin Bay using Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data and GIS. Spatio-temporal dynamics of Secchi depth (S (depth)), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrite nitrogen (NO(2)-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), silicate (SiO₄), 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were estimated using best-fit multiple linear regression (MLR) models as a function of Landsat 7 ETM+ and ground data in 2007 and 2008, latitude, longitude, and day of year. Validation of the MLR models against Landsat and ground data in 2005 led to r values ranging from 0.39 for NO₂-N (P = 0.008) to 0.79 for S (depth) (P < 0.001). Parsimonious MLR models built in this study appear to be promising for monitoring and predicting spatio-temporal dynamics of optically (in)active water quality characteristics in Mersin Bay.