Estimation of Turbidity around Sendai Bay just after the Great East Japan Earthquake by Satellite Data

Abstract

The objective of this study is to estimate the turbidity distribution by using the AVNIR-2 data of 10m resolution in Sendai Bay after Great East Japan Earthquake. As a result, the following matters were clarified. The brown or black water distribution and destroyed oyster bed pieces and several km scales eddy were qualitatively shown from RGB image of AVNIR-2 around the bay after the earthquake. Moreover, the NPSS estimation method by AVNIR-2 LCI (Linear Combination Index) was examined by handling the bio-optical model. A significant strong correlation between AVNIR-2 LCI and NPSS was observed. The relation was validated by an actual AVNIR-2 image and the measurement turbidity. It was estimated to have distributed the at least high density up to about 10km offshore murky waters from continental areas around the bay after the Earthquake from the turbidity map finally made from AVNIR-2.