A model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in Taihu Lake from TM images

A study was conducted in the Taihu Lake with the aim of deriving a model for the retrieval of suspended sediment （SS） concentrations from Landsat TM images and in situ sampled data. The correlation between suspended sediment concentrations of lake and the reflectance obtained from the TM images is significant. By TM images and in situ sampled data in summer and winter, we obtained a comparative uniform model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in the Taihu Lake, that is lnSS = a＊（R3/R1） ＋ b, where lnSS is the natural logarithm of the suspended sediment concentration, Rl and R3 are the reflectance coincident with the 1st band and the 3rd band in TM images, a and b are the regression coefficients. Furthermore, we analysed the errors particularly to make sure the model is valid. The model is accurate to within 0.33（RMSE）, suggesting that this model may be applicable to predict suspended sediment in the Taihu Lake from TM image throughout the year.