Pseudo-colour images of the reef zones of Geyser and Zelee benches, corrected for surface effects (2009-2010) — EPICURE Project

These seabed images are derived from the correction of the surface effects of water on hyperspectral data acquired in 2009 and 2010 for the Litto3D Indian Ocean project (IGN/SHOM) and with funding from the Agency for Marine Protected Areas (AAMP). The calculation methods are based on developments initiated within the framework of the quadripartite cooperation agreement on the “Reef Artography of the French Islands of the Indian Ocean to Part of Hyperspectral Data” between the Prefecture of Réunion, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the AAMP and Ifremer. Several specific projects subsequently enabled these developments to be applied/adapted to the different geographical sub-sectors. The processing of these hyperspectral data in 2017 in the framework of the EPICURE project (Study of Fish Plants and Reef Communities) resulted in the generation of a multispectral 4-band image (Red/Green/Blue/PIR), improving the understanding and interpretation of some unobvious areas (shades, clouds, artifacts related to the surface of the water, depth, etc.). The correction of surface effects, allows a better perception of the bottom in the greater depths compared to the raw hyperspectral data. The EPICURE project is co-financed by the 10th EDF Taaf and the project promoters (Ifremer and CUFR de Mayotte).