Model Application for Estimating Total Suspended Solids in Eastern Amazonian Waters

Suspended sediments influence water quality, ecosystem functioning, and navigation in rivers and coastal environments. In the Eastern Amazon, estuarine systems such as the Guamá River and Guajará Bay experience intense variability in suspended sediment concentrations due to the combined effects of river discharge and tidal dynamics. These processes produce changes in water turbidity and optical properties, making continuous monitoring challenging using field measurements alone.
This project aims to improve the estimation of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in Amazonian coastal waters by integrating satellite remote sensing, in situ observations, and machine learning techniques. Multispectral satellite imagery will be combined with field-based TSS measurements to develop models capable of capturing the optical and hydrodynamic complexity of tide-dominated environments.
By explicitly accounting for tidal influence and optical variability, the project addresses key limitations of existing TSS monitoring approaches, which are often developed for river-dominated systems.
The results will include multi-temporal maps of suspended sediment distribution, providing valuable information for environmental monitoring, water resource management, and navigation planning. The project also strengthens international collaboration and develops transferable methods applicable to other dynamic coastal and estuarine systems.

Faculty Supervisor:

Maycira Costa

Student:

Partner:

Universidade Federal do Pará

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Victoria

Program: