Spatial distribution and interannual variability of cyanobacteria blooms on the North-Western shelf of the Black Sea in 1985-2019 from satellite data.

Long-term high and medium resolution satellite data are used to study spatial, seasonal and interannual variability of the cyanobacteria blooms (CB) in the North-Western Shelf (NWS) of the Black Sea. High-resolution Landsat data demonstrate that CB were regularly observed in the study area on satellite images in 1985-2020. Comparison of quasi-synchronous Landsat and MODIS images was used to study the characteristic features of CB spectra, which are: a "step" formed by MODIS 3 (469) and 4 (488) channel, probably related to the absorption by photoprotective carotenoids; increased reflectance in near-infrared; maximum at 547-555 nm.