Undergraduate Research Final Report: Estimation of suspended sediments using MODIS 250 m bands in Mayagüez Bay, Puerto Rico

Large advances in remote sensing techniques now allow the study of large and dynamic areas with little extensive fieldwork. However, it has become increasingly important to develop better algorithms for the accurate estimation of diverse parameters, such as suspended sediments. A study was conducted using the high spatial and temporal resolution of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) multi-spectral sensor onboard the Terra and Aqua satellite. The work tested the reliability of a model developed by Miller and McKee (2004) to measure suspended sediment concentrations using Band 1 (620 – 670 nm) in Mayagüez Bay, Puerto Rico. The tested algorithm gave a low average correlation value (R2 = 0.0845). This study demonstrates that a site-specific algorithm is needed to better estimate suspended sediments this area using MODIS