How does it work?
Scientific institutes worldwide study the possibility to use satellite data to monitor red tides: their exact locations, their intensity and combining those into movement and growth. MAReS Costa Rica’s target is to set up a monitoring service to enable mitigation actions against red tides. The service will be based on optical satellite data, processed into maps and alerts of red tides.
Local knowledge, calibration and validation will make sure that the service is tailored to the Costa Rican environment, situation and requirements. Costa Rican scientists are involved for this task. To assist in the calibration and validation activities, a WISPstation high-frequency monitoring instrument will be installed in priority areas.
Remote Sensing Technology
Satellites can make photos of large areas at once, providing the opportunity to map environmental information of the land and the oceans of planet Earth.
Satellites capture the light that has been reflected by the Earth surface in a large range of wavelengths. Because all substances have their own colour (or spectral signature) the satellite photos can be used to distinguish land and water, but als
How does the WISPstation work?
The WISPstation is an instrument that automatically measures the water quality every 15 minutes. It does so by measuring the colour of the water within the visible and near infrared light spectrum (350 – 900 nm). From specific features in this reflected light spectrum it derives the parameters of interest.
The MAReS project involves collecting water samples to validate data obtained with remote sensing technology. This will be carried out by taking samples from the sea using a Niskin bottle at different depths according to the test method to be applied. These samples will be preserved and stored in cold conditions until processing in the laboratory. Additionally, field and laboratory measurements of