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Identification of the drivers of water quality spatio-temporal variability in the estuarine areas of Lake Tanganyika

Lengrand, Aurélien
(2024)

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Lengrand_27131900_2024.pdf
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Details

Supervisors
Vanclooster, Marnik ; Alonso, Alice
Faculty
Faculté des bioingénieurs
Degree label
Master [120] : bioingénieur en sciences et technologies de l'environnement, à finalité spécialisée
Abstract
Large-scale deforestation, urban expansion, and inappropriate agricultural practices in Lake Tanganyika's watershed lead to sediment and nutrient influx into the lake, degrading water quality. Monitoring water quality in the lake's estuarine areas is crucial for understanding ecosystem health and promoting sustainable management practices. This study aimed to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics and identify drivers of chlorophyll-A and turbidity in the estuaries of the Malagarasi and Ruzizi rivers, key tributaries of Lake Tanganyika. Using Landsat 8/9 Provisional Aquatic Reflectance with a fine spatial resolution (30m) alongside CCI Lakes Chlorophyll-A and turbidity datasets (1km spatial resolution), efforts were made to optimize chlorophyll-A and turbidity algorithms. However, no conclusive results were obtained. This underscores the need for improved atmospheric correction and algorithm choice. To address this challenge, chlorophyll-A and turbidity time series were built using an already optimized algorithm for chlorophyll-A and a turbidity index. Spatial analyses revealed distinct patterns of chlorophyll-A and turbidity dynamics, emphasizing the local impacts of river mouths and coastal areas on water quality. Temporal analyses showed a seasonal correlation between river flow and the dynamics of both variables, with higher concentrations observed during the wet season. Disparities between chlorophyll-A and turbidity dynamics and river flow highlighted the need for additional water variables for a comprehensive understanding. This study emphasizes the necessity of remote sensing satellites like Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 to further explore and monitor estuarine water quality dynamics.