Cilamaya estuary zonation based on sea surface salinity with 2 Sentinel-2A satellite imagery

Abstract

Estuaries act as transitional areas on the coastal zone that connect highly saline ocean environments with fresh river systems. This dynamic aquatic ecosystem is created by deep fluctuations in water quality and salinity levels. Cilamaya estuary supports a highly diverse marine ecosystem that is underutilized due to knowledge deficiencies of its variable rates of salinity. The aim of this study is to show the difference zone of estuary based on the sea surface salinity in the different time, so that Cilamaya Estuary areas can be utilized optimally for resource management. Sea surface salinity is obtained using algorithmic calculations based on the Sentinel-2A imagery. Salinity levels are studied based on the rainy and dry seasons. The higher salinity occur on the dry seasons, while on the rainy seasons have a lower salinity. Estuary areas experience 0.5-30 %o salinity placing it within the three zoning classes of the Venice System; Mexo-oligohaline; Mexo-mesohaline and Mexo-polyhaline.