Adaptive Sampling of Algal Blooms Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Satellite Imagery

This paper proposes a method that uses satellite data to improve adaptive sampling missions. We find and track algal bloom fronts using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with a sensor that measures the concentration of chlorophyll a. Chlorophyll a concentration indicates the presence of algal blooms. The proposed method learns the kernel parameters of a Gaussian process model using satellite images of chlorophyll a from previous days. The AUV estimates the chlorophyll a concentration online using locally collected data. The algal bloom front estimate is fed to the motion control algorithm. The performance of this method is evaluated through simulations using a real dataset of an algal bloom front in the Baltic. We consider a real-world scenario with sensor and localization noise and with a detailed AUV model.