A Probabilistic Model to Quantify the Quality of Open Water Bodies

Abstract

A model to quantify the quality of open water bodies was developed on the grounds of multivariate probabilistic logic. The model is based on water quality parameters reported in the scientific literature such as: turbidity, chlorophyll-a, vegetation index and superficial temperature and uses probabilistic functions derived from the distribution of Pixel values of such parameters. Such functions were combined by means of the multivariate probabilistic logic that produced a map of water quality levels. The model was then applied to the Centla Wetlands in South East Mexico. In these wetlands, numerous water bodies can be observed in varying levels of eutrophication. To test the proposed model, examples were developed using a Terra/Aster image. A qualitative scale of water quality degrees was proposed.