## 1 Introduction  
Increasing concentrations of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere produced by human activities is the most significant driver of climate change [1]. The impacts of climate change are expected to negatively affect water quantity and quality in most arid and semi-arid areas [1]. Furthermore, low agricultural productivity throughout the tropics and subtropics is expected, accompanied by damage to ecosystems and biodiversity in these areas. The Abu Dhabi State of Environment Report 2017 highlighted key vulnerabilities associated with climate change, principally sea-level rise coastal flooding; increased salinity of coastal aquifers; impacts on the marine environment; heat stress; built environment impacts; more extreme weather events (floods, droughts, etc. ); increased risk of dust storms; and risk from airborne contaminants (e.g., pesticides) [2]. Carbon dioxide and methane are the two most prevalent greenhouse gases. While methane does not last in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it is approximately 21-times more heat-absorptive than carbon dioxide per unit of weight [3]. This property makes methane 84-times more potent than carbon dioxide in the first twenty years following its release. Hence, both emissions (methane and carbon dioxide) have to be addressed and monitored in order to effectively reduce the impact of climate change. Several algal bloom occurrences took place recently in the Arabian Gulf. Such Algal blooms can have a significant detrimental effect on the economy in the UAE. In addition, the Arabian Gulf hosts some of the largest desalination plants in the world, and most of them are located along the UAE coastline [1]. These desalination plants produce a significant percentage of the potable water consumed by UAE residents, and their desalination capacity is constantly increasing. Increased number of algal bloom occurrences in the UAE is threatening the optimal operation of these desalination plants, hence affecting water availability in the UAE. Effective monitoring and early sensing of algal blooms are required to manage the operations of the desalination plants efficiently. Algal blooms are also threatening the water quality in the coastal areas, thus becoming a health hazard. The algae produce toxins which (i) in small quantities make consumption of shellfish dangerous, and (ii) in large quantities decimate the fish population. Furthermore, other more common problems associated with harmful algal blooms include environmental damage, impact on tourism and commerce due to the repulsive green residue and its offensive odor [4]. An efficient and early sensing system is required to facilitate a swift response [1]. Algal bloom build-up is usually initiated from nutrient pollution, an overabundance of the essential plant nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus [4]. Sources of these elements are typically point sources (such as wastewater treatment plant discharges), non-point sources (such as septic tanks and stormwater runoff, urban areas and residential areas), and from nutrient-enriched rainfall or dust storms, which frequently occur in the region [4]. When the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus increase in a water body; the right combination of temperature, sunlight, and low flow can trigger an algal bloom [1,4]. While nitrogen and phosphorus occur naturally and are essential plant nutrients, an overabundance of these nutrients can cause significant imbalances in the water body's ecology, and blooms are one symptom [1,4]. The current research aims to explore and study the performance of the sensing in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) region (1000-1650 nm) in combination with the RGB camera to predict possible algal boom occurrences through estimation of the concentration of nutrients in the coastal waters of the Arabian Gulf [1]. Eventually, facilitating precautionary measures by the local authorities. Rather than using a single wavelength, the appropriate method for monitoring N content is by using spectral profiles to mitigate the effect of other mixtures.