Remote Sensing of Aquatic Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Biodiversity
Satellite observations offer environmental monitoring and water resource management communities a unique capability to observe changes in water conditions across spatial and temporal scales not feasible with field-based monitoring alone. Research in the LOA Lab combines satellite data sets with multidisciplinary observations of atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic processes to study impacts of anthropogenic and natural disturbance on aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry and biodiversity. Some of our work is conducted as part of preparation efforts for future satellite missions, including PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem), GLIMR (Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer) and SBG (Surface Biology and Geology), to inform measurement requirements and optimal remote sensing design of new satellite sensors and mitigate risks while maximizing the return of future NASA satellite missions.

A Global View of COVID-19 impacts

Using a combination of satellite data and field observations, our team has been studying the impacts of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on nitrogen pollution, air-quality, water-quality, and biogeochemical processes in the New York metropolitan area. One of the main goals of this research is to quantify the responses of phytoplankton and bacterial assemblages in Long Island Sound to COVID-19 related shifts in nutrient quality.

As part of these efforts our group has been contributing to the joint tri-agency NASA/ESA/JAXA COVID-19 Earth Observation Dashboard, which integrates multiple satellite data records with analytical tools to allow user-friendly tracking of changes in air and water quality, climate change, economic activity, and agriculture. You can learn more about this effort HERE
Selected Publications and Related Links: 
  • *Cao F. and Tzortziou M., (2024) Impacts of Hydrology and Extreme Events on Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in a Heavily Urbanized Estuary and Its Major Tributaries: A View From Space. JGR-Biogeosciences   https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007767
  • Dierssen H.M.,  M. Gierach, L. Guild, A. Mannino, J. Salisbury, S. Schollaert Uz, J. Scott, P. Townsend, K. Turpie, M. Tzortziou, E. Urquhart, R. Vandermeulen, and  P.J. Werdell, (2023). Synergies between NASA's Hyperspectral Aquatic Missions PACE, GLIMR, and SBG:  Opportunities for new science and applications JGR-Biogeosciences
  • Fichot C., M. Tzortziou, A. Mannino (2023) Remote sensing of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) stocks, fluxes and transformations along the land-ocean aquatic continuum: advances, challenges, and opportunities. Earth-Science Reviews, 104446.
  • D'Sa E., M. Tzortziou, B. Liu, (2023) Extreme events and impacts on organic carbon cycles from ocean color remote sensing: Review with case study, challenges, and future directions. Earth-Science Reviews, 104503.
  • *Sherman J., M. Tzortziou, K. J. Turner, D.I. Greenfield, A. Menendez. (2023) Deciphering the water quality impacts of COVID-19 human mobility shifts in estuaries surrounding New York City. Science of The Total Environment, p.164953.
  • Brewin R. J. W., S. Sathyendranath, G. Kulk, …M. Tzortziou, et al., (2023). Ocean carbon from space: Current status and priorities for the next decade. Earth-science reviews, p.104386.
  • *Sherman J., M. Tzortziou, K. *J. Turner, J. Goes, *B. Grunert (2023). Chlorophyll-a dynamics from Sentinel-3 using an optimized algorithm for enhanced ecological monitoring in complex urban estuarine waters. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 118, 103223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2023.103223
  • *Turner K. J., M. Tzortziou, *B. Grunert. J. Goes, and *J. Sherman (2022) Optical classification of an urbanized estuary using hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance. Optics Express, 30(23), 41590-41612.
  • El Serafy, G.Y.H.; Schaeffer, B.A.; Neely, M.-B.; Spinosa, A.; Odermatt, D.; Weathers, K.C.; Baracchini, T.; Bouffard, D.; Carvalho, L.; Conmy, R.N.; Keukelaere, L.D.; Hunter, P.D.; Jamet, C.; Joehnk, K.D.; Johnston, J.M.; Knudby, A.; Minaudo, C.; Pahlevan, N.; Reusen, I.; Rose, K.C.; Schalles, J.; Tzortziou, M., 2021. Integrating Inland and Coastal Water Quality Data for Actionable Knowledge. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2899. doi.org/10.3390/rs13152899
  • *Lamb B., M. Tzortziou, K. McDonald, 2021. A Fused Radar-Optical Approach for Mapping Wetlands and Deepwaters of the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast Regions of the United States. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2495. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13132495
  • *Cao F. and M. Tzortziou, 2021. Capturing dissolved organic carbon dynamics with Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 in tidally influenced wetland–estuarine systems. Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145910

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