Optical Remote Sensing in Lake Trasimeno: Understanding from Applications Across Diverse Temporal, Spectral and Spatial Scales

Abstract

Under the current Anthropocene Epoch there is an urgent need to deliver high‐quality data, information and knowledge to the decision-making process for a sustainable management of environmental concerns, in particular for inland water. Most literature address the advantages brought by remote sensing (RS) techniques in operational monitoring and management of lakes. In the present work, optical RS is applied to a complex ecosystem, the turbid eutrophic shallow Lake Trasimeno (Italy). A first example of RS application addresses the use of high frequency spectroradiometric measurements collected by a WISPstation to retrieve intra-inter daily and seasonal dynamics of chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin. A second section focuses on long term trends of water quality by means of satellite data time series for the whole lake surface. Then we exploit the latest generation of hyperspectral satellite images (PRISMA and DESIS) utilizing the high spectral resolution and improving the accuracy of estimated lake water quality. Finally, high spatial resolution satellite data is used for a finer scale mapping of bottom substrates. Application of these techniques improved scientific understanding on the timing, composition and distribution of phytoplankton blooms, the role of nutrients and climate drivers as well as changes in the extent and composition of aquatic plants.