Author(s): David Bazzett; Xi Wang; Ruo-Qian Wang
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Hyperspectral suspended sediment remote sensing water color water quality
Abstract: Surface water color is fundamentally influenced by suspended sediment characteristics, enabling remote sensing methods to estimate sediment properties. However, existing approaches primarily rely on empirical correlations validated only for limited particle conditions, significantly constraining their field applications. This study addresses this limitation through comprehensive analysis of hyperspectral signatures across multiple wavelength bands to characterize suspended sediments of varying sizes and concentrations. Our results reveal distinct inflection points in light scattering behavior: at low concentrations, scattering shows positive correlation with concentration but negative correlation with particle size, while at high concentrations, these relationships invert. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate enhanced detection capability for concentration changes in dilute solutions, while particle size sensitivity remains robust across concentration ranges. Theoretical analysis of suspended sediment mixture reflectance provides physical insights into these empirical observations. This research establishes critical guidelines for wavelength band selection in sediment characterization and highlights the need for more sophisticated remote sensing models. Our findings advance the understanding of turbidity-induced water color variations and contribute to the development of next-generation remote sensing technologies for environmental monitoring.
Year: 2025