VARIATION OF LIGHT ATTENUATION OF SEAGRASS HABITAT IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA FROM SATELLITE-BASED ESTIMATION

Light deprivation into the water column depends on the water
clarity. Seagrass habitat is sparsely identified along the coastal
area of Peninsular Malaysia. Seagrass density is affected by the
amount of attenuated light into the water column, as light is
essentially used for the growing process. Water along the west
coast is more turbid than the south and east coast of Peninsular
Malaysia. Blue spectral band (450 nm−510 nm) of Landsat 7
ETM+ satellite image that has strong penetrative power and red
band (640 nm−670 nm) that is sensitive to subtle changes on
seafloor features are useful to estimate variability of light
penetration. A set of sampling points for both spectral bands was
plotted with coastal depth. It is found that the east coast has 25%
higher light penetration compared to south and west coastal
regions. This condition is favourable for seagrass habitat.
However, low light in deeper sea bottom and strong waves from
South China Sea are among limitations