Mapping seagrass from satellite remote sensing data

Abstract

This paper reviews some early results on a method adopted in mapping seagrass using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper data. Seagrass information was extracted from satellite remotely sensed data using depth invariant index (DII) where the sea bottom features were expressed as index (i.e. each bottom type was represented by one index). DII was determined from radiance values recorded in band 1, 2 and 3 which taking into account the effect of water attenuation. Sea truth samples collected during the satellites overpass were used in calibrating DII and an independent accuracy assessment of information extracted.