418
T. J. Ballatore et al.
In addition, the organizations responsible for managing lakes in Africa commonly
lack the sufficient expertise and technology (hardware, software and training) to
develop appropriate remote sensing methods. Slow and intermittent Internet connections are a particular problem as the size and availability of remotely-sensed images
grow. As a result, the full potential of remote sensing to aid in lake monitoring efforts
has not been realized.
To bring the full promise of this technology to bear on African lakes, further
collaboration between international and local research teams is essential. Relatively
few African researchers are currently involved in remote sensing research, in spite
of their critical role in advancing this discipline for the African lakes. It is interesting
to note that out of the 40 Africa-specific studies in our reference list, 9 (22.5 %)
have lead authors with either African affiliations or backgrounds. If we consider all
authors (some counted more than once if more than one publication), then Africans
make up 15 % of the total (26 out of 169). Clearly, the portion of African-led and
African-authored papers has room to grow.
For remote sensing to become standard in African lake monitoring and management, a greater exchange between African and non-African researchers and managers
must occur. This exchange could take place through remote scientific collaboration (research, grants), gatherings for team building and knowledge dissemination
(conferences, meetings) and/or on-the-ground in-country working relationships
(trainings, projects). These collaborative activities would act to increase awareness
of the potential of the technology and develop the technical and analytical skills
needed for deployment in country.
20.6.3 Technological Challenges
The high altitude of many of these lakes requires further development of atmospheric
correction methodologies developed for oceans and low-altitude lakes, sometimes
necessitating region-specific calibrations (i.e. Horion et al. 2010). The characteristics
of atmospheric aerosols over sub-Sahara Africa are significantly different than those
considered in most ocean-based atmospheric calibration algorithms (Pinker et al.
2010).
The application of remote sensing technology is more challenging in optically
complex inland waters, where the effects of CDOM and suspended sediments can
reduce the utility of standard algorithms. Fortunately, the offshore sections of many
African lakes are fairly well suited for the remote sensing applications as phytoplankton abundance generally controls the variability of the optical properties in these areas
(Silsbe et al. 2006; Loiselle et al. 2008; Bergamino et al. 2010; Cózar et al. 2012).
Further investigations of the optical properties of African lakes are needed to favor
the development of regionally valid algorithms.
T. J. Ballatore et al.
In addition, the organizations responsible for managing lakes in Africa commonly
lack the sufficient expertise and technology (hardware, software and training) to
develop appropriate remote sensing methods. Slow and intermittent Internet connections are a particular problem as the size and availability of remotely-sensed images
grow. As a result, the full potential of remote sensing to aid in lake monitoring efforts
has not been realized.
To bring the full promise of this technology to bear on African lakes, further
collaboration between international and local research teams is essential. Relatively
few African researchers are currently involved in remote sensing research, in spite
of their critical role in advancing this discipline for the African lakes. It is interesting
to note that out of the 40 Africa-specific studies in our reference list, 9 (22.5 %)
have lead authors with either African affiliations or backgrounds. If we consider all
authors (some counted more than once if more than one publication), then Africans
make up 15 % of the total (26 out of 169). Clearly, the portion of African-led and
African-authored papers has room to grow.
For remote sensing to become standard in African lake monitoring and management, a greater exchange between African and non-African researchers and managers
must occur. This exchange could take place through remote scientific collaboration (research, grants), gatherings for team building and knowledge dissemination
(conferences, meetings) and/or on-the-ground in-country working relationships
(trainings, projects). These collaborative activities would act to increase awareness
of the potential of the technology and develop the technical and analytical skills
needed for deployment in country.
20.6.3 Technological Challenges
The high altitude of many of these lakes requires further development of atmospheric
correction methodologies developed for oceans and low-altitude lakes, sometimes
necessitating region-specific calibrations (i.e. Horion et al. 2010). The characteristics
of atmospheric aerosols over sub-Sahara Africa are significantly different than those
considered in most ocean-based atmospheric calibration algorithms (Pinker et al.
2010).
The application of remote sensing technology is more challenging in optically
complex inland waters, where the effects of CDOM and suspended sediments can
reduce the utility of standard algorithms. Fortunately, the offshore sections of many
African lakes are fairly well suited for the remote sensing applications as phytoplankton abundance generally controls the variability of the optical properties in these areas
(Silsbe et al. 2006; Loiselle et al. 2008; Bergamino et al. 2010; Cózar et al. 2012).
Further investigations of the optical properties of African lakes are needed to favor
the development of regionally valid algorithms.