FEASIBILITY STUDY of EVALUATION of WATER COLOR USING 500 m RESOLUTION MODIS-LCI DATA for JAPANESE COASTAL SEA

Using the LCI (Linear Combination Index) as an indicator of water color, the spatial distribution of water color in the coastal sea of Japan and its seasonal variations were examined based on the MODIS data of the artificial satellite from 2006 to 2016. Evaluated LCI especially showed low values in the coastal area of Hokkaido and Boso Kujyukuri (relatively stronger green sea water color). From the results of cluster analysis on the annual variations of LCI, similarities were found within the three groups:Kyushu - Tokai - Kanto south (A Group), Joban – Boso (B Group) and Hidaka - Misawa off (C Group) for the Pacific coast of Japan. Application results of EOF analysis for the area from Sendai bay to Fukushima coast showed that LCI was reduced in winter away from the major estuaries, which suggests that there are factors causing the water color changes in the coastal area other than the direct influence of river water.