Strategic use of Sentinel-3A/B OLCI data for global water quality management: An overview

Abstract

The Sentinel-3A/B satellites, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), are equipped with the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI), which provides data through push-broom radiometers. Sentinel-3A was launched on February 16, 2016, and Sentinel-3B on April 25, 2018. Given their relevance in environmental monitoring, there is a growing need for literature reviews to deepen the functional understanding of their geospatial applications. This study aims to review the scientific literature on using Sentinel-3A/B OLCI data for monitoring aquatic environments, particularly focusing on chlorophyll-a (CHL), total suspended matter (TSM), and absorption of dissolved organic matter at 443 nm (ADG443). The review includes publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science (SCIE) databases between February 2016 and 2025. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was employed to select 26 relevant studies that apply spectral detections via Sentinel-3A/B satellites related to levels of CHL, TSM, and ADG443. Additionally, the Content Analysis Method (CAM) and MAXQDA software were used to analyze absolute (AF) and relative frequencies (RF) of key variables such as study location, sampling, objectives, use of Sentinel satellites, outcomes, innovations, and future research directions. CAM results showed an average frequency of ∼ 36.0%, with Sentinel-3A accounting for 35.3% and Sentinel-3B ranging between 31.89% and 40.08%. Chlorophyll-a was the most frequently cited term, with a frequency of 32.33% to 40.08% in MAXQDA. The consistency and reliability of spectral detections underscore the potential of these satellites to support the aquatic ecosystem preservation.