Combined application of remote sensing and in situ measurements in monitoring environmental processes

Combined use of remote sensing in the visible, infrared and microwave spectral regions, direct in situ measurements and model numerical experiments makes it possible to study inland water bodies as elements of water body-catchment-atmosphere-systems with good spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper examples are presented of the remote sensing methods developed for detection of hydrodynamics of large water bodies (e.g. frontal and upwelling zones, internal waves, warm and cold surface layers), monitoring of chlorophyll concentration, suspended minerals and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in lakes, mapping of shallow water zones, wetlands and landscape structures, monitoring of ecological condition and changes of drainage basins, and studying the state of the atmosphere over lakes and catchment areas.