Chlorophyll distribution in Lake Kinneret determined from Landsat Thematic Mapper data

Chlorophyll distribution in Lake Kinneret was estimated at a time of low chlorophyll concentrations (3-7 mgm^-3). Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data were acquired three days after the acquisition of high spectral resolution radiometric measurements in the range 400 to 750 nm, chlorophyll and suspended matter concentrations, and Secchi disk transparency at 22 stations. The radiometric data were used to create an algorithm for estimation of chlorophyll concentration from the TM data. The radiance in channel TM3 (620-690 nm) was primarily dependent upon non-organic suspended matter concenlration. Radiance in this channel was substracted from radiance in TM1 (450-520 nm) to correct for the additional radiance caused by scattering of non-pigmented suspended particles and (TM1-TM3)/TM2 was found to be a useful index for estimating chlorophyll concentration. The concentrations calculated from atmos-pherically corrected TM data were compared to chlorophyll extracted from lake water samples. The estimation error of chlorophyll concentration was less than 0-85 mgm^-3.