Abstract:
The field of remote sensing can be used to determine the distribution of different types of constituents in seawater such as chlorophyll-a, Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). In this research, IRS-P4, OCM satellite data was used to determine the chlorophyll-a concentration in the coastal waters of Kuala Terengganu. Twenty-two sampling stations were setup and data collections were conducted on the 141h of September 2006 and 1 ?1h of September 2006 concurrently with satellite overpass. The data from the satellite image were extracted to derive the empirical model of chlorophyll-a. The highest R2 value was used to estimate surface water variables in the study area. Using the model maker, map of chlorophyll-a distribution were derived from the algorithm and the concentration of chlorophyll-a at the study area were determined and compared with actual data. The highest R2 was found at band 4 (510 nm) with R2=0.7739, (y = 7.7352x1 .8296 ) and the second highest R2 was found at band 5 (555 nm) with R2=0.7026, (y = 4.3484x1 .om). Algorithm from band 4 indicates station 12 as the highest concentration while band 5 indicates station 21. These two stations were located near to the coastal area, and might be contain high concentration of phytoplankton. Band 4 and 5 algorithms were also indicated that station 17 has the lowest chlorophyll-a which located quite far from the coastal area. It can be concluded that the distance from coastal area and water turbidity have a great influence on the concentration of chlorophyll-a at the study area.
