Explore the Belgian North Sea with Aquascope
Terrascope now provides new satellite-based water quality products for the Belgian part of the North Sea. The Institute of Natural Sciences in collaboration with VITO, extends the Terrascope portfolio from land and atmosphere to the sea, covering offshore waters, coastal zones and the ports of Zeebrugge, Ostend and Nieuwpoort.
Using data from Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3 and Landsat 8 and 9, Aquascope provides data from 2015 to near real time, with recent observations processed within 24 hours. With spatial resolutions ranging from 10 metres for Sentinel-2 to 500 metres for Sentinel-3, the Aquascope products support both large-scale analysis and detailed investigation of coastal features such as sediment plumes.
The processing algorithms are tailored to the turbid and nutrient-rich conditions of Belgian waters and validated using WATERHYPERNET radiometers, in-situ sampling stations and buoys in the Belgian North Sea.
The available products include:
- Quasi-true colour (RGB) imagery and remote sensing reflectance (Rrs):
explore how the sea surface is observed by satellite. - Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and turbidity (TUR):
track sediment transport and monitor dredging, coastal protection works and the impacts of offshore infrastructure. - Chlorophyll-a (CHL):
assess phytoplankton biomass and support water-quality and eutrophication studies. - Sea surface temperature (SST):
access high-resolution temperature maps combining thermal observations from Landsat and Sentinel-3.
More aquatic products coming soon
Over the coming months, Aquascope will provide more products for coastal monitoring and early warning, including:
- Gap-filled, multi-resolution products for chlorophyll-a (CHL), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and turbidity products (TUR); merging Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 data into daily cloud-free maps.
- Algal bloom detection and eutrophication assessment, to support reporting under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and OSPAR.
- Floating object detection, including foam lines that form after Phaeocystis algal blooms and may wash ashore.
- Marine heatwaves monitoring: periods of unusually warm sea water, which are becoming more frequent and intense under climate change.
Access the data
You can access the data via various services:
- explore the products in the Terrascope viewer
- process them using Terrascope cloud services
- find and download them through the Terrascope STAC browser
- integrate them into GIS and web applications through the WMTS service
Questions or feedback are welcome through the Terrascope service desk or forum.
Aquascope is funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) under the Terrascope II programme.
