"Introducing AquaWatch - the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Water Quality Initiative"

Good water quality is essential for the human, ecosystem and economic health. Its management implications span many areas of Sustainable Development - degradation of water quality can result in human exposure to disease and harmful chemicals, reduction in productivity and diversity of ecosystems and damage to aquaculture, agriculture and other water-related industries. The use of satellite remote sensing offers a cost-effective, spatially and temporally comprehensive tool for observing often highly dynamic water quality phenomena in coastal and inland waters and is particularly beneficial for monitoring previously unsampled locations and areas with limited access. New and improved sensor technologies, novel algorithm development, and considerable improvements in data availability and image processing capabilities have resulted in major advancements in remote sensing of coastal and inland waters, and a demonstrable increase in the confidence in derived water quality products.

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) AquaWatch is the water quality community of practice focused on the synthesis of remotely sensed and in situ data for improved global data products that are open access. The overall goal of the AquaWatch Initiative is to develop and build the global capacity and utility of Earth Observation-derived water quality data, products, and information to support effective monitoring, management, and decision making.

This Bite will discuss the science behind satellite-derived water quality measurements, the activities of GEO AquaWatch and proposes areas of collaboration with the World Bank. See disruptive tech in action!