Monitoring the status of Canada’s freshwater lakes has never been more important. As land-use pressures and our changing climate continue to have impacts on our freshwater resources and ecosystems, it is necessary to know how water quality conditions are changing over time.
Using advanced technologies such as Earth Observation (EO) satellites, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) scientists are now better equipped to monitor and understand factors that affect the water quality of lakes across Canada. Satellite remote sensing provides a cost-effective solution for obtaining frequent, lake-wide water quality observations. ECCC scientists are developing remote sensing products to deliver information on inland water quality in support of lake science and water quality management. On this webpage, you will find interactive tools, satellite-derived water quality data products, and information on the science behind remote sensing of water quality.
Services and information
Remote sensing of algal blooms
About inland water algal blooms and how they are detected from space.
Interactive algal bloom monitoring tool
A web tool providing daily satellite-derived algal bloom maps and indices
Annual algal bloom summary reports
Access annual reports on satellite-derived bloom indices for select lakes.
Frequently asked questions
More about satellites, algorithms, remote sensing terminology, data usage.
Image archive
View an image archive documenting interesting satellite images of key lakes studied under ECCC priority programs.
Contact EOLakeWatch
How to get in touch with us.