Utilization of MODIS satellite data for modelling chlorophyll concentrations along Malaysian coastal waters

Abstract

The principal goals of biological oceanographers is documentation of temporal and spatial variations in the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. This work presents the utilization of MODIS data for mapping chlorophyll spatial distribution along east coast of Malaysia. Four algorithms have involved in this study which were Aiken’ algorithm, Clark- 3-Bands algorithm, Clark algorithm and Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI) algorithm. In this study, the maximum amount of chlorophyll concentration value of 0.38 mg m-3 occurred during northeast monsoon period whereas the minimum concentration value of chlorophyll-a value of 0.2 mg/ m3 is noticed in inter-monsoon period. It is interesting to find that the Aiken’s algorithm is appropriate for accurately synoptic chlorophyll mapping distribution. In fact, the algorithm performs the lowest root mean square error of ±0.10 mg/ m3 as compared to other algorithms. In conclusion, MODIS data can be used as a geomatica tool for accurately mapping of chlorophyll concentration along the coastal water of Malaysia with implementation of Aiken’s algorithm.