eoapp ALGIQ — Water Quality from Space
eoapp ALGIQ needs JavaScript to display the interactive map. The
questions below summarise what the application does.
What is eoapp ALGIQ?
eoapp ALGIQ is a web application that turns satellite imagery into algal bloom and water quality data for lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters. It combines on-demand processing of recent satellite scenes with a long-term archive, so operators can see how a bloom is developing and how it compares to previous years.
How does satellite monitoring detect algal blooms?
Optical satellites measure the light reflected from the water surface across many wavelengths. Algae contain chlorophyll-a and other pigments that absorb and scatter light in a distinctive pattern. ALGIQ applies physics-based models to that signal to estimate pigment concentration for every pixel of a water body.
Which water quality parameters does eoapp ALGIQ measure?
ALGIQ derives chlorophyll-a concentration, turbidity, water surface temperature and an algal risk indicator from satellite data. Each parameter is delivered as a map layer and as a time series, so both the spatial pattern across a lake and the trend at a single location can be assessed.
How often is new algal bloom data available?
New data appears whenever a suitable satellite passes over the target water body and the sky is clear enough. For most European lakes that means a usable observation every two to three days on average, though cloud cover can extend the gap during unsettled weather.
How far back does the historical water quality archive go?
The satellite archive behind ALGIQ reaches up to 40 years into the past, depending on the sensor and the water body. That depth makes it possible to establish a long-term baseline for a lake and to judge whether a current bloom is unusual or part of a recurring seasonal pattern.
Which lakes and water bodies can be monitored?
Any inland or coastal water body large enough to be resolved by the satellite sensor can be monitored, worldwide. Small lakes and narrow river sections need higher-resolution sensors, so coverage frequency there is lower than for large lakes, reservoirs and coastal zones.