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Article

Upscaling In Situ and Airborne Hyperspectral Data for Satellite-Based Chlorophyll Retrieval in Coastal Waters

by
Roko Andričević
Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Water 2025, 17(15), 2356; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152356 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 June 2025 / Revised: 24 July 2025 / Accepted: 6 August 2025 / Published: 7 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Oceans and Coastal Zones)

Abstract

Monitoring water quality parameters in coastal and estuarine environments is critical for assessing their ecological status and addressing environmental challenges. However, traditional in situ sampling programs are often constrained by limited spatial and temporal coverage, making it difficult to capture the complex variability in these dynamic systems. This study introduces a novel upscaling framework that leverages limited in situ measurements and airborne hyperspectral data to generate multiple conditional realizations of water quality parameter fields. These pseudo-measurements are statistically consistent with the original data and are used to calibrate inversion algorithms that relate satellite-derived reflectance data to water quality parameters. The approach was applied to Kaštela Bay, a semi-enclosed coastal area in the eastern Adriatic Sea, to map seasonal variations in water quality parameters such as Chlorophyll-a. The upscaling framework captured spatial patterns that were absent in sparse in situ observations and enabled regional mapping using Sentinel-2A satellite data at the appropriate spatial scale. By generating realistic pseudo-measurements, the method improved the stability and performance of satellite-based retrieval algorithms, particularly in periods of high productivity. Overall, this methodology addresses data scarcity challenges in coastal water monitoring and its application could benefit the implementation of European water quality directives through enhanced regional-scale mapping capabilities.
Keywords: spectral density upscaling; random field generation; satellite retrieval on comparable scales; Chlorophyll mapping spectral density upscaling; random field generation; satellite retrieval on comparable scales; Chlorophyll mapping

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Andričević, R. Upscaling In Situ and Airborne Hyperspectral Data for Satellite-Based Chlorophyll Retrieval in Coastal Waters. Water 2025, 17, 2356. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152356

AMA Style

Andričević R. Upscaling In Situ and Airborne Hyperspectral Data for Satellite-Based Chlorophyll Retrieval in Coastal Waters. Water. 2025; 17(15):2356. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152356

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andričević, Roko. 2025. "Upscaling In Situ and Airborne Hyperspectral Data for Satellite-Based Chlorophyll Retrieval in Coastal Waters" Water 17, no. 15: 2356. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152356

APA Style

Andričević, R. (2025). Upscaling In Situ and Airborne Hyperspectral Data for Satellite-Based Chlorophyll Retrieval in Coastal Waters. Water, 17(15), 2356. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152356

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