Study of Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Titicaca from 2018 to 2023 based on Landsat 8 Satellite

Inorganic substances such as nitrogen and phosphorus increase the proliferation of algae in water bodies. Besides, human-generated waste enhances the effects of eutrophication. Given this problem, the present study has the primary objective of performing an analysis of harmful algal blooms in Lake Titicaca using remote sensing images from Landsat 8 satellites to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Chlorophyll Index (CI-Green), Surface Algal Bloom Index (SABI), and Chlorophyll Vegetation Index (CVI). Our results indicate that the highest averages of the four indices correspond to 2022, followed by 2020. The present study reveals that areas with concentrations of vegetation (algae) and chlorophyll activity are in Huancané, Puno, El Collao, and Chucuito (Peru), while in Bolivia, they are in the provinces of Omasuyos, Los Andes, and Ingavi.