Monitoring of Inland Surface Water Quality Using Remote Sensing on the Example of Wigry Lake

Abstract

The study examines how LANDSAT images can be used to monitor inland surface water quality effectively by using correlations between various indicators. Wigry lake (area 21.7 km2) was selected for the study as an example. The study uses images acquired in the years 1990–2016. Analysis was performed on data from 35 months and seven water condition indicators were analyzed: turbidity, Secchi disc depth, Dissolved Organic Material (DOM), chlorophyll-a, Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The analysis of results also took into consideration the main relationships described by the water circulation cycle. Based on the analysis of all indicators, clear trends describing a systematic improvement of water quality in Lake Wigry were observed.