Lake

"An inland body of water, usually fresh water, formed by glaciers, river drainage, etc. It is usually larger than a pool or pond." (Lenntech, 2019)

Sources

Lenntech. Water glossary: An explanation of terminology concerning water related issues. Accessed March 4, 2019. Available at: https://www.lenntech.com/water-glossary.htm

Introduction

Embarking on a new kind of adventure, scientists are using small satellites called CubeSats to explore the mysteries of water on Earth. They can help us learn more about oceans, lakes, and rivers. Water sustains all forms of life but, for something so integral to our existence, we know little about its intricate dynamics. This is where the collaboration between space technology and water research comes into play.

Exploring the exciting potential of hyperspectral imaging for water quality monitoring

Photo of The HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload orbiting Earth (Image courtesy of NASA)

Harmful Algal Blooms occur when toxin-producing algae experience excessive growth within bodies of water. These blooms have the potential to cause detrimental effects on both aquatic and human health and can sometimes even cause death, depending on the type of algae involved (NIEHS, 2021). Thanks to the use of space-based remote sensing technology to monitor water quality conditions in coastal areas and drinking water reservoirs, nations are becoming more aware of the quality of their water.

Interview with Melody Lepine, Director at the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government and Industry Relations

Suncor upgrader, tailing ponds, Athabasca River and Tar/oil sands in Northern Alberta. Photograph taken by Garth Lenz, 2019

Photo by Garth Lenz.

Short description of the Mikisew Cree First Nation community

Nestled on the northwest shore of Lake Athabasca, Fort Chipewyan is one of the most northern communities in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Isolated by nature, Fort Chipewyan can only be accessed by plane or boat in the summer and by a winter road in the winter.

The third Space4Water Stakeholder Meeting

co-organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW)

Interview with Melody Lepine, Director at the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government and Industry Relations

Photo by Garth Lenz.

Short description of the Mikisew Cree First Nation community

ARSET - Mapping and monitoring lakes and reservoirs with satellite observations

Overview:

Natural lakes and man-made reservoirs are a part of Earth’s surface water. Freshwater lakes and reservoirs are used for drinking water, fishing, and recreational activities. Aside from the aesthetic and scenic value added by their presence, lakes support surrounding plant and aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. A variety of factors affect lakes and reservoirs, including climate variability and change, land use, and other watershed activities influencing surface runoff and groundwater.

XVIII World Water Congress

Water is for all, including humans and nature. As a precious natural resource, water plays a vital role in meeting human needs, preserving the environment and developing our countries. Thus, water management should consider, coordinate and balance the various needs, and fundamentally achieve harmony, which embodies a dynamic, coordinated, appropriate and equitable relationship, between humans and nature.

19th World Lake Conference (Balaton 2023)

The history of the World Lake Conference (WLC) dates back to the Shiga Conference on Conservation and Management of World Lake Environment of 1984, known as LECS’84, which was held on the shore of Lake Biwa, Japan. The aim of the LECS’ 84, which was to contribute to promoting scientific approaches in the world lake basin management, has been inherited to the World Lake Conferences held in various parts of the world including USA, Hungary, China, Italy, Argentina, Denmark, Kenya, India, Indonesia and Japan.

Stakeholder

Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency

The Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) is a wholly owned Government of Zimbabwe entity, established under the Research act [Chapter 10:20]. It is responsible for designing, promoting, coordinating and conducting research and development initiatives that promote advances in Geospatial Sciences and Earth Observations, Space Engineering, Space Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechatronics, Satellite Communication Systems, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Land Positioning Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Launch of Satellites.

Kenya Space Agency

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) was established under the Ministry of Defence, as the successor to the National Space Secretariat (NSS), by Executive Order through Legal Notice No. 22 of 7th March 2017 with the mandate to promote, coordinate and regulate space related activities in the country.
Vision: The vision of the Agency is to be the premier Space Agency in promotion of access and effective utilization of Space Economy for national sustainable development.

Center for Space Science and Geomatics Studies (CSSGS), Pashchimanchal Campus, Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University

The Center for Space Science and Geomatics Studies (CSSGS) is the research center with a focus on space science and geomatics applications in the following themes: disaster management, water quality, glacier, precision agriculture, air pollution, water pollution. Research areas also focus on the application of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in forestry, agriculture and engineering.

University of Zimbabwe: Department of Construction and Civil Engineering

The Department of Construction and Civil Engineering at the University of Zimbabwe is one of the 8 departments in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment.The department is already a major center for water and sanitation engineering through its MSc programmes which have produced graduates from eastern and southern Africa. The department also boasts of soil and material and timber research facilities which can be used to benefit the country at large.

b.geos GmbH

b.geos offers Earth Observation services using state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies. We develop value-added products, conduct basic research, provide consultancy in remote sensing technologies and applications, as well as training.

Abegaz

Nurdein Teshome Abegaz

Senior Lecturer and Space Science PhD candidate at Wollo University

Nuredin Teshome is a Senior Lecturer in physics at Wollo University and a last-year PhD student in Space Science and Applications at the Space Science and Geo-spatial Institute.

Kitambo

Benjamin Kitambo

Research engineer at Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

I am Mr Benjamin M. Kitambo, a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I hold a BSc degree in Geology, majoring in Hydrogeology and Geotechnical from the University of Lubumbashi, DRC, 2014. I further pursued my Master studies from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, where I obtained an MSc degree in Integrated Water Resources Management, Majoring in Water Resources Management, year 2017.

Software/Tool/(Web-)App

Freshwater Ecosystem Explorer

The Freshwater Ecosystem Explorer is an open access geo-spatial data platform, providing accurate, high-resolution, geospatial depicting the extent to which different types of freshwater ecosystems change over time, within every country in the world.

Related Content

Article

Explorando el emocionante potencial de las imágenes hiperespectrales para el control de la calidad del agua

Exploring aquatic realms: CubeSat applications for water research

Introduction

Exploring the exciting potential of hyperspectral imaging for water quality monitoring

Interview with Melody Lepine, Director at the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government and Industry Relations

Short description of the Mikisew Cree First Nation community

The third Space4Water Stakeholder Meeting

Interview with Melody Lepine, Director at the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government and Industry Relations

Short description of the Mikisew Cree First Nation community

Capacity Building and Training Material

ARSET - Mapping and monitoring lakes and reservoirs with satellite observations

Overview:

Event

XVIII World Water Congress

19th World Lake Conference (Balaton 2023)

Stakeholder

Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency

Kenya Space Agency

Center for Space Science and Geomatics Studies (CSSGS), Pashchimanchal Campus, Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University

University of Zimbabwe: Department of Construction and Civil Engineering

b.geos GmbH

Person

Nurdein Teshome Abegaz

Benjamin Kitambo

Software/Tool/(Web-)App

Freshwater Ecosystem Explorer