Abstract

In this study remote sensing was used as an early alert tool for chlorophyll-a changes in a continental aquatic ecosystem in central Chile. To this end, 14 LANDSAT images of Laja Lake (36° 54 'S, 71° 05' W, 1,360 meters above sea level) were taken over a 6-year period. Eleven spectral indexes were calculated. At the same time, chlorophyll-a concentrations were determined experimentally. Correlations between vegetation indices and chlorophyll-a concentrations in different monitoring zones were established. The indices that presented a good correlation were NDVI and GNDVI. A new regression model was developed that allows the primary productivity values of Laja Lake to be estimated using satellite data. Finally, chlorophyll-a maps were created.