Augmenting Satellite Remote Sensing with AERONET-OC for Plume Monitoring in the Chesapeake Bay

Satellite observations provide broad spatial coverage of complex coastal environments but may lack temporal resolution to capture rapid changes in these dynamic systems. This study explores the potential of the recently installed NASA Aerosol Robotic Network Ocean Color (AERONET-OC) in the Chesapeake Bay, USA, both for comparison with satellite remote sensing and to complement the satellite observations by filling temporal gaps at a fixed site. Using AERONET-OC’s effectiveness as a validation tool through comparisons with multi- and hyperspectral satellites, we find agreement between AERONET-OC and satellite remote sensing reflectance measurements in the Chesapeake Bay. We use AERONET-OC to estimate total suspended matter transport through the upper bay, revealing a 3-day lag of sediment plume transport from riverine discharge to the AERONET-OC site. During the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke episode, AERONET-OC aerosol optical depth measurements in the Chesapeake Bay agree with satellite products while capturing diurnal variations that are not observable through daily satellite passes. This study demonstrates the potential of continuous in situ monitoring by AERONET-OC to complement satellite observations with higher frequency, important for capturing extreme events that may be missed by daily satellite overpass or are less frequent when cloudy.