The GLORIA Dataset

by Nima Pahlevan,  Daniela Gurlin, Moritz Lehmann, and Daniel Andrade Maciel

June 22, 2023 – 19:00 UTC

Abstract: 

Satellite data are now central to assessments of aquatic biodiversity, climate change impacts, trophic states, and primary productivity of surface waters. Using satellite data for water quality applications can mean overcoming the challenges of atmospheric corrections and algorithms development/testing on the basis of a large amount of in situ data to account for the bio-geo-optical diversity of inland and coastal waters. The GLObal Reflectance community dataset for Imaging and optical sensing of Aquatic environments (GLORIA) is an international effort that includes 7,572 curated hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance (Rrs, sr-1) measurements, with co-located measurements of water quality attributes, addressing such data needs. Our work has led to a large, comprehensive, difficult-to-collect dataset of existing measurements contributed from the global bio-optical research community in a grass-roots, collaborative effort with the goal of enabling scientific and technological advancement towards operational regional and global remote sensing of water quality monitoring. The presented material provides an introduction to the need for GLORIA and its origin story, an overview of the dataset and methods, a description of its radiometric diversity and quality control, information on data access, and insights in its exploratory analysis using R and Python and is seeking to provide a firsthand resource for its use. More information including a link to the GLORIA dataset can be found in our Data Descriptor in Scientific Data and associated ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post in the Nature Portfolio Earth and Environment Community.

1. Need for GLORIA and its origin story (Nima -10mins) 
2. Overview of the dataset and methods (Daniela-10mins)
3. Radiometric diversity and QC (Moritz-10mins)
4. Data access and exploratory analysis using R and Python (Daniel-10mins)
5. Q&A

Speaker Bios: 

Nima Pahlevan, Principal Scientist for the Freshwater Sensing Program, SSAI & NASA GSFC: Dr. Nima Pahlevan is the principal scientist for the Freshwater Sensing Program of Science Systems and Applications Inc. (SSAI) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). His main area of research lies within the remote sensing of water resource domain focused on algorithm developments, calibration/validation, impacts of climate variability on water quality, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and relevant applied science practices (e.g., biodiversity, water quality issues induced by hurricanes, wildfires, land-use/landcover change, urban developments, agricultural practices, illegal mining). Pahlevan serves on PACE, Landsat, and Terra/Aqua/SNPP science teams, and contributes to the Surface Biology Geology (SBG) mission. In collaboration with a large network of national and international collaborators (300+), Dr. Pahlevan has contributed 45+ peer-reviewed publications and has been cited 4300+ (h-index: 29), according to Google Scholar.

Daniela Gurlin, Natural Resources Research Scientist: Daniela worked on different aspects of the development of a remote sensing program to measure lake water quality, in-lake vegetation, and riparian development for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Her main tasks lied in the adaptation of previously developed image processing protocols for the creation of annual statewide water clarity products to new satellite sensors and the field spectroscopy of lakes and flowages across Wisconsin to support the development and application of bio-optical algorithms for the estimation of optically significant constituent concentrations. She relocated to Germany in 2020 and works from her home in Berlin where she provides technical assistance in remote sensing and data management including the work on the GLORIA database. She enjoys exploring new venues in her ever changing hometown.

Moritz Lehmann, Senior Oceanographer, Starboard Maritime Intelligence: Moritz works on lake water quality monitoring using satellites and hyperspectral in situ sensors.  He moved with his family to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2014 from Canada where he has conducted several field campaigns to characterize the great bio-geo-optical diversity of New Zealand lakes. Moritz was a co-lead of a project to improve cyanobacteria bloom detection by satellite, and he is an international advisor for the Australian AquaWatch mission. Later this year, Moritz hopes to hear of funding success for Clear Shores, a proposal for a New Zealand space mission focussed on water quality. Moritz works from his home in Raglan where he practices horsemanship and longboard surfing.

Daniel Maciel, Environmental Engineer, Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Ecosystems – LabISA-INPE: Daniel Maciel is an environmental engineer who loves the art, science, and technology of remote sensing. Daniel started to work specifically on water quality remote sensing at the Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Ecosystems – (LabISA/INPE), evaluating remote sensing algorithms to retrieve suspended sediments in the complex ecosystems of the Amazon Floodplain lakes. During his doctoral research, he studied how remote sensing could be used to estimate water transparency on several scales (local-to-global). Daniel is currently engaged in projects centered on i) developing state-of-the-art water quality products for Brazilian Inland waters (MAPAQUALI) and ii) evaluating how water transparency and remote sensing could be used to better understand phytoplankton biodiversity in the Amazon Floodplains lakes (BONDS/SABERES). In addition, Daniel is also a fan, user, and teacher of the R programming language. He maintains an Instagram page dedicated to scientific knowledge sharing (@radar.geo) on remote sensing and programming languages. Since 2021, Daniel’s R courses have attracted over 1000 students in Brazil, further empowering the scientific community with valuable programming skills.

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