Lake Okeechobee is Florida’s largest freshwater lake and a focal point for state restoration efforts. This story focuses on two contrasting years at Lake Okeechobee: 2017, when Hurricane Irma triggered a lake-wide turbidity event, and 2023, when harmful algal blooms were particularly prevalent. Together, they illustrate how satellite-derived monitoring captures very different types of water-quality events at the same location. The story also recommends the same approach to serve water quality management across Florida and the States.

A lake under constant pressure

Lake Okeechobee covers roughly 1,900 km². Decades of nutrient pollution, sediment disturbance, and storm impacts have driven recurring harmful algal blooms and declining water quality, with real consequences:

• Recurring beach and boat-ramp closures
• Toxin levels spiking far above safe thresholds during peak blooms

Satellite data closes the gap

Sunlight passes through the water column, interacts with algae and sediment, and reflects back to the satellite sensor. EOMAP’s physics-based retrieval model turns that signal into quantitative water quality data, down to the Secchi depth, at up to daily revisit rates.

When Hurricane Irma struck in September 2017, this approach captured the resulting turbidity spike within days and tracked its decline over the following seven months. In 2023, it mapped algal bloom conditions across the entire lake.

From one lake to the whole state: supporting Clean Water Act obligations

The continuous, lake-wide and quantitative data shown at Lake Okeechobee also helps meet Clean Water Act obligations. Under the Act, FDEP assesses Florida’s waters, identifies impaired waterbodies and documents their restoration. Satellite monitoring complements field programs, helps focus sampling where it matters most, and provides an independent, well-documented record. The approach can be applied to any Florida waterbody, for example:

• Statewide assessment, including rarely sampled lakes and estuaries
• Restoration and BMAP tracking, for example in the Everglades, the Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries
• Harmful algal bloom early warning
• Post-storm impact and recovery tracking
• Monitoring near permitted discharges, dredging and construction
• Coastal water quality, bathymetry and habitat mapping

Access the Storymap below

The Zambezi River counts among Africa’s most important river basins. This ESA-funded project is centered on nature-based solutions to address climate change threats. For this endeavour, we contribute through water quality and Earth Observation (EO)-based discharge data. This will be integrated into the data established platform of the Zambezi River Basin Commission (ZAMCOM).

The Zambezi River links 8 countries

The Zambezi River is the fourth longest in Africa, has a basin of approximately 1,370,000 km2, and runs through eight countries: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Like most rivers, it provides a wide range of ecosystem services, including drinking water, sanitation, transportation, electricity generation, and habitats for diverse species. These entail an ongoing contested development. In addition, resource extraction, industrial and population growth along its catchment put pressure on the Zambezi.

Bridging data gaps

ZAMCOM’s mission relies heavily on high-quality data. The ZAMWIS system, their comprehensive online data repository, combines everything from historical hydrological records to real-time satellite data. However, continuous data flow from all member states has been a challenge, leading to critical information gaps. That’s where external support comes in, for example, through independent data sources.

Satellite tech to complement in-situ data

Through the ESA-funded GDA Water Resources project, EOMAP provided independent data, helping ZAMCOM generate consistent river discharge measurements. By using advanced satellite technology — combining altimetry sensors for water levels and optical sensors for river width and flow characteristics — EOMAP delivered daily discharge estimates at seven critical locations. Impressively, this EO-based approach exceeded ZAMCOM’s expectations, offering vital insights for strategic management of the Zambezi and its tributaries, including areas influencing the enormous Cahora Bassa reservoir.

Water Quality Monitoring: A Game-Changer for River Ecosystems

ZAMCOM’s data previously lacked coverage on water quality — a critical component of river ecosystem management. Thanks to satellite-derived insights from EOMAP, that has changed. For instance, the Kafue Flats, a crucial wetland in Zambia with industrial, ecological, and economic importance, can now be monitored at over ten locations. This allows for early detection of environmental issues that would be hard to track with conventional fieldwork.

In another key discovery, Chlorophyll-a concentrations highlighted two Upper Zambezi tributaries, Kapombo and Lungwebungu, as hotspots for elevated levels. While the reasons behind these spikes require further investigation, the findings have sparked ZAMCOM’s interest in continuing this line of research.

Driving Sustainable Water Use

The Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) is a collaborative effort between eight nations: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The intergovernmental organization aims to promote equitable and efficient management of the Zambezi River’s water resources. This involves balancing upstream water extraction with the needs of downstream communities. By this, ZAMCOM strives to foster sustainable development and reduce poverty.

The project has been conducted with support from GDA Water Resources by ESA and the Climate Investment Fund (CIF).

• Discover the project on GDA’s interactive “Impact Sphere”.

Let’s connect

Contact our R&I team for more details.
Learn more about satellite-based Water Quality monitoring

Kelp is a highly productive natural resource, providing food and shelter for marine life and the potential for carbon storage. The US ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles use satellite-based knowledge provided by EOMAP to understand where kelp grows and how sea surface temperature affects it.

Keeping an eye on kelp ecosystems

According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), kelp forests are highly dynamic ecosystems covering a third of the world’s coastlines. Their growth and distribution are greatly influenced by ecological dynamics, human impacts, and environmental stressors, such as a warming ocean. Kelp thrives in temperate coastal waters on rocky reefs, but will also grow in nearshore areas including break walls and riprap armored shorelines.

However, once the temperature rises above 18 – 23°C, the kelp canopy dies off and sinks to the seafloor where it fuels benthic food webs.

Kelp mapping through Earth Observation (EO)

Our long-term partner WSP in the U.S. – in collaboration with the authorities of Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles – has been responding proactively to this challenge to understand kelp dynamics on urbanised coastlines. Exhausting the potentials of remote sensing

• they count on seasonal routines of kelp mapping and monthly water quality analysis,
• using very-high-resolution commercial Maxar Technologies (WorldView), Airbus Geospatial and Secure Connectivity Solutions (Pleiades NEO) and high-resolution Copernicus Sentinel-2 image data
• This way, the port authorities can keep track of the extent of surface and submerged kelp and crucial hashtag environmental impact factors on kelp growth such as turbidity and water temperature.

Supporting NOAA reporting on fish habitat impact

Data from these surveys are used in environmental documents and biological mitigation planning to meet NOAA requirements for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act (MSA) to determine if port activities are likely to have an impact on EFH or protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) for groundfish and pelagic species.

“The EOMAP team has been a great collaborator to apply remote sensing to the needs of both Ports. They consistently provide excellent technical support on image acquisition, analysis, and creating an online portal to view and export data.” (Kevin Stolzenbach)

On our side, we truly appreciate this cooperation with plenty of interesting insights on kelp protection.

More details

• Scroll through storymaps on biological surveys at LA Ports.
• Access the recent Report and see (p.10), how satellite imagery contributed.
• Please get in touch with our coastal team for more details.
• Read more on habitat mapping here.

COASTS is a European project led by EOMAP. The project team aims to fill important knowledge gaps through the integration of earth observation, advanced modeling, surveying, and digital tools. It strives to co-design fit-for-purpose solutions together with local stakeholders at three pilot sites. Considering the crucial role of coastal areas for environment, economy and community, COASTS addresses the urgent need for action on pressing environmental challenges.

A focus on coastal resilience and blue carbon

Coastal areas, which embody a diverse range of ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes are referred to as “blue carbon” ecosystems. They provide a wealth of ecosystem services and are known to be hotspots of biodiversity. However, climate change and human activities pose serious risks to coastal zones. This calls for informed management strategies.

Blue carbon habitats are also vital to carbon sequestration efforts: They play a critical role in climate regulation. However, they face increasing threats from sea-level rise, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. The alarming loss rates observed in mangroves and seagrasses result in the release of stored carbon and degradation of key ecosystem services.

Leveraging Earth Observation (EO)

To address these challenges, the project COASTS (Coastal Observation Advances leveraging Space Technology Services) proposes an innovative solution: It will integrate advanced earth observation data with state-of-the-art modeling and monitoring techniques. This approach will help simulate past coastal processes and blue carbon ecosystem dynamics, thus providing forecasts and climate change scenarios. By leveraging the capabilities of the Copernicus Marine Service, the international initiative combines advanced technological resources with actionable environmental insights.

Decision support tool for coastal stakeholders

The COASTS project aims to develop decision support for coastal ecosystem resilience and blue carbon optimisation. For this effort, the team will evaluate the coastline’s capabilities in erosion protection, ecosystem services support, and carbon sequestration. Through the integration of high-resolution EO data, the project will map spatial-temporal dynamics within coastal zones. All data will be accessible to stakeholders via a web application, enabling for visualisation, analysis and environmental reporting. This critical baseline information and forecast scenarios will empower stakeholders to develop effective and sustainable management strategies for coastal habitats and better target restoration and preservation efforts.

Three pilot sites in Europe and the Maldives will provide testbeds for COASTS. These test sites will serve as a blueprint for application and scalability in other regions. The close collaboration with stakeholders in the pilot regions will ensure the project meets the needs and acceptance of end users.

Read the press release on COASTS’ kick off here.

More on blue carbon projects by EOMAP

We wish to support safeguarding blue ecosystems worldwide through further satellite-based habitat mapping initiatives:

• Recently, we have started to map mangrove coverage on the entire coastline of Madagascar.
• Blue carbon projects also include seagrass density maps for the entire coast of Schleswig-Holstein along Germany’s Baltic coast.
• Moreover, EOMAP has been part of an international consortium dedicated to mapping seagrass meadows along Italy’s entire coastline.

For more details, please reach out to our coastal team.

This ecosystem mapping project aims to assess mangrove coverage along the entire coastline of Madagascar. Leveraging satellite data, we establish baseline data on mangrove expansion over time and estimate carbon content and stock levels – the so-called “blue carbon”.

From the World Bank’s perspective, EOMAP´s analytics delivered critical spatial evidence on coastal carbon stocks in Madagascar. This information directly supports our engagement with national authorities on sustainable coastal management. (Sachiko Kondo, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, World Bank)

Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, in particular by mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes. These habitats act as natural sinks of carbon, effectively reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In addition to their significant role in climate regulation, they offer a wide range of ecosystem services. They enhance biodiversity, supporting activities like sustaining migratory bird populations, bolstering fisheries, generating revenue through ecotourism. Moreover, they serve as a protective barrier against coastal erosion and extreme weather events.

Blue carbon ecosystems are vital for fighting climate change

Despite covering less than 0.5% of the world’s ocean floor, they account for approximately 50% of the carbon stored in oceanic sediment. Recognizing the important role of blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows, in carbon sequestration and storm protection, these environments are vital assets in the fight against climate change. However, these blue carbon ecosystems are facing critical rates of degradation and require immediate action to prevent further loss. When these coastal wetlands deteriorate, they not only cease to capture carbon but can also become substantial emitters of greenhouse gases.

Leveraging Earth Observation (EO) for ecosystem mapping

In recent years, there has been notable advancement in comprehending the elements and mechanisms affecting carbon storage in these ecosystems. However, the task of creating detailed maps and accurately quantifying the primary carbon reservoirs still poses difficulties. This is primarily due to the limited availability of on-site data and uncertainties in the existing data.

EO technologies provide essential tools for the detailed mapping and ongoing monitoring of these ecosystems, facilitating the integration of satellite data with climate models and ground sensors. This integration enables a comprehensive analysis of coastal dynamics, the resilience of coastal vegetation, and the detection of vulnerabilities to future climatic shifts, thus supporting effective conservation and adaptive management measures.

Tracking two decades of ecosystem change in Madagascar’s mangrove forests

As part of a collaboration with the World Bank and the European Space Agency (ESA), led by the Austrian company GeoVille, we have mapped the entire coastline of Madagascar to assess mangrove coverage. This project aims to establish baseline data on mangrove expansion over time and estimate carbon content and stock levels.

Using Sentinel-2 and historical Landsat-5 data, we mapped the extent and distribution of mangroves for the years 2020 (baseline), 2010, and 1996. Above-ground biomass (AGB) was calculated by applying a machine learning method that integrates predictor variables, including spectral indices, elevation, and slope. To support the biomass and canopy height estimates in the absence of in-situ data, we used above-ground biomass density (AGBD) estimates from NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission as reference data. Soil organic carbon was then predicted based on the derived AGBD, Sentinel-2 bands, additional covariate layers, and global soil parameter maps (pH and bulk density) available at 30-meter resolution.

Opening the door to future carbon financing mechanisms

Detailed information on mangrove extent and associated blue carbon potential is being provided to Madagascar’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. This data offers critical insights to support ecosystem protection and rehabilitation efforts and to explore future opportunities for the country in the blue carbon market.

More blue carbon assessments by EOMAP

We aim to support efforts to safeguard blue ecosystems worldwide through satellite-based mapping initiatives. Our extensive experience in blue carbon projects includes producing seagrass density maps for the entire coast of Schleswig-Holstein along Germany’s Baltic Sea. It also includes further mangrove mapping projects around the globe, including one in Queensland, Australia. Since 2024, EOMAP has also been part of an international consortium dedicated to mapping seagrass meadows along Italy’s entire coastline, one of Europe’s largest habitat mapping project led by the Italian Environmental Agency ISPRA. This mapping provides essential baseline data for future restoration projects, but also for blue carbon assessments.

Let’s connect

• Read more about this coastal carbon assessment on ESA’s GDA page
• Find more EO Applications for Environment and Resources
• Discuss your needs with our coastal team