The Watercolours Project - Preliminary Assessment of Chlorophyll-A Variability in the Malta Shelf Area

The WaterColours project carried out by the University of Malta explores the utilisation of a long time series of ocean colour satellite imagery for the estimation of Chlorophyll-a (Chl) concentration in the Malta shelf area and the coast of the Maltese Islands. This is accomplished by processing ten years of MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) sensor full spatial resolution (i.e., 300 m) data, acquired from 2002 to 2012, to compile a climatology at daily, weekly, and monthly intervals. The aim of this study is to identify the baseline variability and climatological trend of Chl in this marine area as well as to disseminate the results on an online portal that will enable users to further utilise the product for the marine environmental monitoring and management of the Maltese coast.