Water Quality Parameter Modelling in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Using Landsat Thematic Mapper Data

Analysis of a single day synoptic set of Landsat Thematic Mapper and water quality parameter data is described. The analyses reported are preliminary to the development of a generalised water quality parameter model using a multitemporal data set obtained from Moreton Bay, Queensland. Investigations reported include the evaluation of various atmospheric correction techniques and image transformations for water quality parameter modelling in this area. In general, TM data are strongly correlated with total suspended sediment and secchi depth, and poorly correlated with chlorophyll concentrations. All atmospheric correction techniques improve the performance of water quality parameter models equally well except the CZCS correction technique applied with an assumption of uniform aerosol composition. In the CZCS technique, the use of TM bands 3 and 4 as water absorbing bands reduces the quality of the result. This is mainly because band 3 as the water absorbing band may not be valid for the study area and band 4 is high in striping and system noise.