The zoning of quality parameters in the river using satellite imagery for aquaculture

In order to exploit the potential of surface water for aquaculture, the choice of suitable river reach with allowable water quality and pollutant concentrations was important, which has the least negative environmental impact. This study was performed to designate a river reach with a lower concentration of river pollutant parameters. Landsat satellite imagery was used to adapt the water quality and was analyzed with sampled water quality data over four time periods at 12 stations along the Beshar River in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province. Correlation analysis between satellite imagery reflectance and pollutant concentrations were evaluated by two methods. In the first method, was evaluated the correlation between the interpolated quality parameters along the river and the reflectance values. In the second method, the correlation between the sampled qualitative parameters at the stations and the reflectance values at the same station was investigated. The results showed that different bands of satellite images are appropriate for evaluating each of the water quality parameters. Imagery bands that are suitable for water quality parameters were obtained as the thermal band for temperature, 5, 4, 4 and 2 for pH and nitrate, respectively, in hot and cold seasons, 3 for TDS and 3 or 5 for turbidity. The regression relationships were determined by two linear univariate and multivariate regression methods, and then by using them were estimated the water quality parameters along the river. Based on the results, the river areas that have good water quality were selected as fish breeding and aquaculture areas.