Analysis on the seasonal variations of microphytobenthos distribution in a tidal flat using remotely sensed data

Abstract

The applicability of remotely sensed data to the detection and monitoring of the seasonalvariation of microphytobenthos distribution in a tidal flat was examined for the Geunso-bay tidal flat in the west coast of Korean peninsula. The biomass of diatom within the surface sediments was estimated through field campaigns and the seasonal change in the spectral reflectance of the remotely sensed data was investigated.Field spectrum data were acquired monthly at the fixed locations for monitoring the microphytobenthosblooming and comparing with the spectral reflectance of satellite images. Sediments facies was also analyzed along with the spectral reflectance based on the in situ data, and the spectral characteristics of the area where microphytobenthos occupied was examined. A medium to low spatial resolution of satellite image was not suitable for the detection of the surface sediments changes in the study area due to its ambiguity of sediments facies boundary, but the seasonal changes of benthic distribution could be obviously detected. From this, we suggest that the study on the distribution of surface sedimentary facies and detailed ecological mapping in a tidal flat based upon the remote sensing images should consider the seasonal variations of microphytobenthosdistribution which would be included in the spectral characteristics of the satellite images.