POSTER SESSION 1
15:30–17:30, Monday, September 14
Poster Session | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Schedule at a Glance
ABSTRACT 1239 | POSTER 57
MAPPING HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS USING UAV-BASED HYPERSPECTRAL REFLECTANCE: A STEP FOR MONITORING COASTAL WATER QUALITY
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal waters are an escalating global concern driven by climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure in densely populated regions. These pressures are particularly pronounced in semi-enclosed and eutrophic systems such as the Baltic Sea, where high optical complexity, substantial riverine inputs, and strong human influence promote recurrent and intense phytoplankton blooms. Such events disrupt ecosystem functioning, deplete dissolved oxygen, and release toxins, posing significant risks to marine life, public health, and coastal economies dependent on fisheries and tourism. However, the rapid onset, spatial heterogeneity, and dynamic nature of HABs in optically complex waters limit the effectiveness of conventional in situ monitoring approaches. To address these limitations, this study investigates a high-resolution, multi-platform monitoring strategy based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors. This approach enables fine-scale detection, classification, and spatial mapping of algal bloom dynamics with enhanced temporal flexibility and spectral sensitivity. The UAV-HSI observations are quantitatively validated against laboratory and field-measured reflectance spectra, including in situ measurements acquired using TRIOS radiometric sensors, to assess retrieval accuracy and spectral consistency. By integrating UAV-based hyperspectral observations with ground-truth measurements, this framework provides a robust and scalable methodology for improving HAB detection and characterization in optically complex coastal environments. Beyond the Baltic Sea, the proposed approach offers a transferable and technically advanced solution for enhancing monitoring capacity, supporting early warning systems, and enabling data-driven, ecosystem-based management of HABs in vulnerable coastal regions worldwide under accelerating climate change.
Madhusmita Dash, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), [email protected]
Chandanlal Parida, Leibinz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemunde (IOW), [email protected]
Bronwyn Cahil, Leibinz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemunde (IOW), [email protected]
Laurenz Walden, Leibinz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemunde (IOW), [email protected]
Poster Session | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Schedule at a Glance
