POSTER Session 1

Insights of the variability of optically active constituents in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula using in-situ radiometry and inversion models

Spain leads global mussel aquaculture production, with the Galician estuaries at the forefront. Monitoring the water quality, including phytoplankton dynamics, in this region is critical due to its economic and social significance. Increasing harmful algal blooms trigger substantial losses, requiring a broad comprehension of water optically active constituents (OACs) and their dynamics to assess estuarine trophic states and ecosystem responses to climate variability. However, OACs’ characteristics and spatial distribution in Northwestern Spain remain poorly understood, creating a gap in the calibration and validation of bio-optical algorithms, thus hindering efficient monitoring methods and remote sensing efforts. This study examines OACs distribution and their variability in Galician’s Rías Baixas estuaries using two ocean color inversion models: the Water Colour Simulator (WASI) and the generalized inherent optical properties (GIOP). Remote sensing reflectance measurements were collected with a profiling radiometer in two estuaries (Rías Arousa and Vigo) with different circulation patterns. Results suggest varying dominant constituents between estuaries, influenced by the distinct coastal morphology and internal water exchange of the estuary. Both estuaries showed similar levels of estimated phytoplankton biomass. However, higher concentrations of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and detritus were observed in sheltered areas less prone to blooms, such as the Ría Arousa, compared to the estuary with greater circulation dynamics (Ría Vigo). Continued in-situ campaigns are critical for improving ocean color products through the calibration and validation of bio-optical models, understanding the complex IOPs dynamics with environmental variables, and contributing to effective resource management strategies

Amália Maria Detoni, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN, CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7893-5370

Xosé Antonio Padín, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM, CSIC), Spain

Gabriel Navarro, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN, CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8919-0060

Natalia Rudorff Oliveira, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Brazil

Maria Laura Zoffoli, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR ISMAR), Italy

Antón Velo, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM, CSIC), Spain

Isabel Caballero, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN, CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7776-1017

Code of Conduct
Privacy Policy