Advances in Dissolved Organic Carbon Remote Sensing Inversion in Inland Waters: Methodologies, Challenges, and Future Directions

Dandan Xu, Rui Xue, Mengyuan Luo, Wenhuan Wang, Wei Zhang () and Yinghui Wang ()
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Dandan Xu: School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Rui Xue: Institute of Science and Technology Information, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100089, China
Mengyuan Luo: Institute of Green and Low Carbon Technology, Guangxi Institute of Industrial Technology, Nanning 530200, China
Wenhuan Wang: Institute of Green and Low Carbon Technology, Guangxi Institute of Industrial Technology, Nanning 530200, China
Wei Zhang: School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Yinghui Wang: Institute of Green and Low Carbon Technology, Guangxi Institute of Industrial Technology, Nanning 530200, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-35

Abstract: Inland waters, serving as crucial carbon sinks and pivotal conduits within the global carbon cycle, are essential targets for carbon assessment under global warming and carbon neutrality initiatives. However, the extensive spatial distribution and inherent sampling challenges pose fundamental difficulties for monitoring dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in these systems. Since 2010, remote sensing has catalyzed a technological revolution in inland water DOC monitoring, leveraging its advantages for rapid, cost-effective long-term observation. In this critical review, we systematically evaluate research progress over the past two decades to assess the performance of remote sensing products and existing methodologies in DOC retrieval. We provide a detailed examination of diverse remote sensing data sources, outlining their application characteristics and limitations. By tracing uncertainties in retrieval outcomes, we identify atmospheric correction, spatial heterogeneity, and model and data deficiencies as primary sources of uncertainty. Current retrieval approaches—direct, indirect, and machine learning (ML) methods—are thoroughly scrutinized for their features, effectiveness, and application contexts. While ML offers novel solutions, its application remains nascent, constrained by limited waterbody-specific samples and model constraints. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges and future directions, focusing on data optimization, feature engineering, and model refinement. We propose that future research should (1) employ integrated satellite–air–ground observations and develop tailored atmospheric correction for inland waters to reduce data noise; (2) develop deep learning architectures with branch networks to extract DOC’s intrinsic shortwave absorption and longwave anti-interference features; and (3) incorporate dynamic biogeochemical processes within study regions to refine retrieval frameworks using biogeochemical indicators. We also advocate for multi-algorithm collaborative prediction to overcome the spectral paradox and unphysical solutions arising from the single data-driven paradigm of traditional ML, thereby enhancing retrieval reliability and interpretability.

Keywords: carbon neutrality; inland waters; dissolved organic carbon; inversion methods; machine learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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