Comparisons of Satellite and Modeled Surface Temperature and Chlorophyll Concentrations in the Baltic Sea with In Situ Data

Malgorzata Stramska,Jaromir Jakacki,Marta Konik,Miroslaw Darecki,Paulina Aniskiewicz

doi:10.3390/rs13153049

Malgorzata Stramska, Jaromir Jakacki + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13153049

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Abstract

Among the most frequently used satellite data are surface chlorophyll concentration (Chl) and temperature (SST). These data can be degraded in some coastal areas, for example, in the Baltic Sea. Other popular sources of data are reanalysis models. Before satellite or model data can be used effectively, they should be extensively compared with in situ measurements. Herein, we present results of such comparisons. We used SST and Chl from model reanalysis and satellites, and in situ data measured at eight open Baltic Sea stations. The data cover time interval from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2019, but some satellite data were not always available. Both the model and the satellite SST data had good agreement with in situ measurements. In contrast, satellite and model estimates of Chl concentrations presented large errors. Modeled Chl presented the lowest bias and the best correlation with in situ data from all Chl data sets evaluated. Chl estimates from a regionally tuned algorithm (SatBaltic) had smaller errors in comparison with other satellite data sets and good agreement with in situ data in summer. Statistics were not as good for the full data set. High uncertainties found in chlorophyll satellite algorithms for the Baltic Sea highlight the importance of continuous regional validation of such algorithms with in situ data.

Highlights

Remote sensing observations have revolutionized approaches used to study oceanic processes
We focused on these two quantities, as they are of crucial importance for studies on ecological status of the Baltic Sea
Our comparisons are based on data collected at stations located in the western to central parts of the Baltic Sea (Figure 1a)

Summary

Introduction

Remote sensing observations have revolutionized approaches used to study oceanic processes. Among the most frequently utilized satellite data in ecological studies are surface chlorophyll concentration (Chl) and sea surface temperature (SST). SST is linked to many processes that occur in the upper ocean, for example, exchange of energy with the atmosphere. Satellite ocean color algorithms do not provide satisfactory results in many coastal areas, where some optically significant water components can be present in larger concentrations than in the open ocean, and can vary independently from one another [9]. One of such regions is the Baltic

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