TITLE:
Advantages of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Harmful Algal Bloom Detection
AUTHORS:
Jayaditya Kapoor
KEYWORDS:
Harmful Algal Blooms, Remote Sensing, Hyperspectral, Oceanography, UAVs
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
27,
2025
ABSTRACT: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a growing threat to aquatic ecosystems, human health, and economies worldwide. Climate change and nutrient enrichment have driven an increase in both the size and frequency of blooms, making accurate observation more urgent than ever. Remote sensing has become a critical tool for monitoring HABs, yet commonly used multispectral instruments such as MODIS, Landsat, and Sentinel face major limitations. Their coarse spatial resolution prevents reliable observation in smaller inland waters, long revisit times restrict timely monitoring, and limited spectral bands reduce the ability to discriminate key pigments like chlorophyll a and phycocyanin. In contrast, hyperspectral sensors capture hundreds of narrow, contiguous bands at higher spatial, temporal, and radiometric resolutions, enabling the detection of subtle phytoplankton characteristics and bloom dynamics across diverse environments. Hyperspectral imagers mounted on unmanned aerial systems further provide near-daily data collection, making them especially effective for tracking bloom evolution. While forecasting remains an emerging application, hyperspectral observation offers the clearest path forward for improving HAB detection and monitoring. This paper reviews the advantages of hyperspectral remote sensing over multispectral approaches and argues for its adoption as an essential technology in safeguarding aquatic health and mitigating the rising global risk of HABs.