Preliminary Results of Satellite-Derived Nearshore Bathymetry

This article presents the preliminary results of a study on satellite-derived bathymetry. The purpose of this research is to explore the use of remote sensing and optical imagery for mapping the depth of coastal waters. This study uses empirical models to estimate the water depth based on the optical properties of the water column. To carry this out, it employs atmospheric correction algorithms to remove the influence of atmospheric scattering and absorption on the optical signals. The authors then apply the empirical models to the corrected imagery to obtain the bathymetric maps. The study shows promising results (RMSE ranging between 0.49 and 0.96m using the Lyzenga methodology), with the estimated depths generally consistent with the available ground-truth data. However, the accuracy of the estimated depths varies depending on the water conditions, such as the presence of waves and bottom type. The authors conclude that satellite-derived bathymetry has great potential for coastal applications, such as environmental monitoring and coastal management.