Evaluation of Landsat-8 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images for estimating the ecological quality of port waters

Maurizio Pieri,Luca Massi,Caterina Nuccio,Luigi Lazzara,Felicita Scapini,Claudia Rossano,Fabio Maselli

doi:10.1080/22797254.2021.1918582

Maurizio Pieri, Luca Massi + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/22797254.2021.1918582

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Recent research has demonstrated that the TRophic IndeX (TRIX) is informative on the ecological quality of Mediterranean port waters and can be estimated by the processing of multispectral observations collected in situ. The current study investigates the alternative use of multispectral data acquired by medium-high spatial resolution optical satellite sensors, i.e. the Landsat-8 (L8) Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Sentinel-2 (S2) MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI). The study analyzes the impact of the main factors influencing TRIX estimation using datasets collected in several Mediterranean ports and particularly in those of Civitavecchia and Viareggio (Central Italy). The experimental results indicate that the spectral configurations of OLI and MSI have a marginal impact on TRIX estimation, while major effects are caused by the different spatial and temporal features of the two sensors. The enhanced spatial properties of MSI are important particularly in the smaller port of Viareggio; the higher acquisition frequency of this sensor brings significant advantages for operational monitoring applications. Overall, the accuracy of TRIX estimation based on in situ spectral measurements is reduced significantly by the use of OLI images and only marginally by that of MSI images. Both image types represent an advancement for the operational monitoring of port waters.

Highlights

Harbour areas represent a strategic point due to their economic importance, and a potential source of marine pollution due to the presence of environmental contaminants (Renzi et al, 2009)
The aim of this study was first of all to evaluate the real classification obtained by nine different combinations of batteries based on six different species: Aliivibrio fischeri, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Skeletonema costatum, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Paracentrotus lividus and Crassostrea gigas; the selected battery combinations are considered theoretically equal
From our results we can suggest, for example, to promote the using of P. tricornutum and D. tertiolecta species, instead S. costatum as 2nd species; on the other hand for the 3rd species we suggest to performing bioassays with P. lividus tested on elutriates diluted at 50% or C. gigas

Summary

Introduction

Harbour areas represent a strategic point due to their economic importance, and a potential source of marine pollution due to the presence of environmental contaminants (Renzi et al, 2009). A wide range of persistent inorganic and organic pollutants can be released into the water column by human activities, with a subsequent absorption into the underlying sediment (Montero et al, 2013). In this regard, dredging activities, which are regularly needed to primarily maintain accessibility and vessel depths, provoke the disruption of the natural equilibrium between sediment and water, leading to the remo bilization of chemicals from the sediment (Eggleton and Thomas, 2004). Contaminants can become bioavailable and may have negative effects on aquatic organisms (Davoren et al, 2005; D’Alessandro et al, 2020) For this reason, dredging activities require a proper assessment and management of contaminated sediments (Bocchetti et al, 2008).

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