Project Team: New England Water Resources Team
Team Location: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Chlorophyll-a levels in Lake Champlain on Aug. 20, 2013. Image Credit: New England Water Resources Team.
Authors:
Bryan L Burley (George Mason University)
Christopher Erickson (College of William and Mary)
Christopher Ewers (U.S. Air Force)
Teresa Fenn (Mary Washington University)
Bradley Gregory (U.S. Air Force)
Jacob Hope (University of Virginia)
Matthew Koslovsky (University of Texas Health Science Center)
Mentors/Advisors:
Dr. Kenton Ross (NASA DEVELOP, National Science Advisor)
Past/Other Contributors:
NASA DEVELOP Summer 2013 New England Water Resources Team: Tiffani Orne, Hayley Solak, Sam Weber
NASA DEVELOP Spring 2014 Lake Champlain Water Resources Team: Patrick Faha, Joanna Ely, Emily Gotschalk
Abstract:
Lake Champlain is a vital resource to multiple communities, industries, and ecosystems. However, recent environmental changes and societal development are believed to have created a nutrient-rich environment, in which cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) flourish. This causes a heightened algal bloom potential that threatens economic and ecological productivity. In order to effectively expand research efforts, a cost-effective approach to monitoring and understanding algal bloom development is required. Currently, project partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Lake Champlain Committee monitor water quality and bloom presence through volunteer-based summer programs. Alternatively, NASA Earth observations allow a user to monitor chlorophyll-a concentration as a proxy for algal blooms with data that is publicly accessible. Thus, coupling remote sensing with current in-situ programs provides a cost-effective approach to monitoring water quality and understanding harmful algal bloom formation and migration. Data obtained from NASA Landsat missions, the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, and Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation monitoring project were utilized in this study to explore historical algal bloom trends. A side-by-side comparison of chlorophyll-a concentration and known natural environmental/societal changes allows a deeper understanding of algal bloom origins.