Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9729-8087

Advisor

Martins, Vitor

Committee Member

Samanta, Sayantan

Committee Member

Sparks, Eric

Committee Member

Tagert, Mary Love

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Biosystems Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Abstract

The Mississippi Sound is a highly productive estuary facing increasing pressures from natural disasters, oil spills, freshwater inflows, and coastal urbanization, yet it remains insufficiently monitored. In this study, key water quality parameters were quantified at 25 stations across the Mississippi Sound from 2024-2025 and integrated with Sentinel-3 satellite imagery retrievals to generate monthly turbidity maps from 2016-2025. Peak turbidity (~10 FNU) and TSS (~20 mg/L), reduced Secchi depth (~100 cm) and conductivity (~20,000 μS/cm), were observed from late winter to early summer; these conditions varied in fall and early spring. Colored dissolved organic matter was moderate, while chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin were low across all campaigns. Sentinel-3 turbidity maps showed highest turbidity values in the western Sound during spring months compared to the Biloxi region. These results represent the first characterization of water quality parameters across the Mississippi Sound using both satellite and in-situ monitoring approaches.

Sponsorship (Optional)

Thesis project funded by the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE)

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