DETECTION OF TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS AND TURBIDITY WITH SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING 
FOR POOLS 4, 8, 13 AND 26 OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Michael J. Erickson1,2, Robin W. Tyser1, and Cynthia J. Berlin2
1River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601.
2Geography Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse WI 54601.

Deposition and transportation of total suspended solids (TSS), particularly 
suspended sediment, have been topics of longstanding concern throughout the 
Upper Mississippi River (UMR).  Problems associated with TSS include reductions 
in depth, productivity, habitat, and aquatic biomass along with loss of 
connectivity of the river from its floodplain.  Satellite technology has been 
shown as a useful approach for estimating sediment concentrations in many 
aquatic environments.  Satellites offer a larger field of view and increased 
spatial variability than aerial photographs or individual field sampling 
techniques.  This study evaluates the feasibility of satellite remote sensing 
for detecting and quantifying TSS and turbidity throughout the UMR.  Point 
source water quality parameters (TSS, turbidity, chlorophyll-a) for stratified 
random sampling (SRS) sites were obtained from the Long Term Resource Monitoring 
Program (LTRMP).  Satellite images were obtained from the Earth Resources 
Observation Systems (EROS) data center.  Initial results of a supervised 
classification indicate, for TSS, an overall detection accuracy of 79% (Pool 4), 
38% (Pool 8), 0% (Pool 13), and 44% (Pool 26), with a total accuracy for all 
pools of 49%.  Results for Pool 13 can be mainly attributed to a lack of 
sampling sites.  Overall accuracy for turbidity was 93% (Pool 4), 86% (Pool 8), 
50% (Pool 13), and 33% (Pool 26), with a total accuracy of 74%.  These findings 
suggest that satellite remote sensing is limited in its ability to detect TSS 
and turbidity; however, potential exists, as evidenced by detection of spatial 
patterns.  Future analysis should concentrate on increased sampling throughout 
the entire pool, especially during satellite flyover, thus allowing for better 
image analysis and greater control over changing river conditions.

Keywords:  satellites, remote sensing, Mississippi River, sediment, water 
quality