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Satellite Derived Bathymetry

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2019) | Viewed by 50940

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Simard 029, 60 Université, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: ocean optics; shallow-water earth observation; atmospheric correction; bathymetry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Estimation of water depth from satellite imagery, commonly referred to as satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB), is desirable for scientific, military, resource management, and safe transportation purposes. SDB dates back to the 1970s, when empirical methods that rely on georeferenced observations of known depth to calibrate a statistical relationship between water depth and pixel colour were developed. These methods are simple to implement and are still in use today, but in addition to calibration data, they rely on simplifying assumptions concerning seafloor spectral reflectance and also assume spatially homogeneous water quality. Alternative methods based on inversion of radiative transfer models do not rely on these assumptions, nor on calibration data, but they instead require precise radiometry (sensor calibration and atmospheric and sea surface correction) that is not always achievable. Hybrid methods that seek to combine the strengths of each method have also been developed, as have geostatistical and photogrammetric approaches. As economic activity in shallow waters intensifies and melting sea ice opens new routes for marine transportation, while sensors with improved spatial, spectral, and radiometric quality become available, SDB is increasingly used to quickly and cheaply map water depth over large or inaccessible areas. However, the large range of existing methods, most of which are not readily available in software, as well as their varying strengths and weaknesses, makes the optimal selection of data and the method for a specific SDB task difficult. This Special Issue, “Satellite-Derived Bathymetry”, calls for all papers that move forward our understanding of SDB, with specific interest in contributions that (1) illuminate strengths and weaknesses of different methods in different environmental contexts, (2) demonstrate and test the use of the uncertainty estimation, and (3) develop new, modified, or hybrid approaches, or (4) develop frameworks for the upscaling of SDB to achieve regional/global coverage.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anders Jensen Knudby
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • empirical, physics-based, and hybrid methods
  • photogrammetry
  • atmospheric correction
  • deglinting
  • inversion algorithms
  • uncertainty estimation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5487 KiB  
Article
A Hybrid Bio-Optical Transformation for Satellite Bathymetry Modeling Using Sentinel-2 Imagery
by Athanasios K. Mavraeidopoulos, Emmanouil Oikonomou, Athanasios Palikaris and Serafeim Poulos
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(23), 2746; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11232746 - 22 Nov 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3836
Abstract
The article presents a new hybrid bio-optical transformation (HBT) method for the rapid modelling of bathymetry in coastal areas. The proposed approach exploits free-of-charge multispectral images and their processing by applying limited manpower and resources. The testbed area is a strait between two [...] Read more.
The article presents a new hybrid bio-optical transformation (HBT) method for the rapid modelling of bathymetry in coastal areas. The proposed approach exploits free-of-charge multispectral images and their processing by applying limited manpower and resources. The testbed area is a strait between two Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea with many small islets and complex seabed relief. The HBT methodology implements semi-analytical and empirical steps to model sea-water inherent optical properties (IOPs) and apparent optical properties (AOPs) observed by the Sentinel-2A multispectral satellite. The relationships of the calculated IOPs and AOPs are investigated and utilized to classify the study area into sub-regions with similar water optical characteristics, where no environmental observations have previously been collected. The bathymetry model is configured using very few field data (training depths) chosen from existing official nautical charts. The assessment of the HBT indicates the potential for obtaining satellite derived bathymetry with a satisfactory accuracy for depths down to 30 m. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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18 pages, 4063 KiB  
Article
Dual Frequency Orbiter-Radar System for the Observation of Seas and Tides on Titan: Extraterrestrial Oceanography from Satellite
by Marco Mastrogiuseppe
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(16), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161898 - 14 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3665
Abstract
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is believed to have a ~100 km thick ice shell above a global ocean of liquid water. Organic materials, including liquid hydrocarbon lakes and seas in its polar terrain, cover Titan’s surface, which makes it a world of two [...] Read more.
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is believed to have a ~100 km thick ice shell above a global ocean of liquid water. Organic materials, including liquid hydrocarbon lakes and seas in its polar terrain, cover Titan’s surface, which makes it a world of two oceans. The RADAR instrument on board Cassini, was able to probe lakes and seas during few dedicated altimetric observations, revealing its capability to work as a sounder. Herein, we describe the design of, and scientific motivation for, a dual frequency X/Ka-band radar system that is able to investigate Titan’s subsurface liquid water ocean, as well as the depth and composition of its surface liquid hydrocarbon basins. The proposed system, which could take advantage of the telecommunications dish, can operate as a sounder, as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) able to map the surface at tens meters of scale resolution, and when data are acquired from close-adjacent orbits, as a repeat-pass SAR interferometer (InSAR). The instrument, which is based on the architecture of the Cassini RADAR, can also characterize Titan’s interior by using geophysical measurements of the tidal amplitude to derive high accuracy estimates of the Love number h2 from a 1500 km circular orbit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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19 pages, 7010 KiB  
Article
Satellite Derived Bathymetry Using Machine Learning and Multi-Temporal Satellite Images
by Tatsuyuki Sagawa, Yuta Yamashita, Toshio Okumura and Tsutomu Yamanokuchi
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(10), 1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11101155 - 14 May 2019
Cited by 148 | Viewed by 14960
Abstract
Shallow water bathymetry is important for nautical navigation to avoid stranding, as well as for the scientific simulation of high tide and high waves in coastal areas. Although many studies have been conducted on satellite derived bathymetry (SDB), previously used methods basically require [...] Read more.
Shallow water bathymetry is important for nautical navigation to avoid stranding, as well as for the scientific simulation of high tide and high waves in coastal areas. Although many studies have been conducted on satellite derived bathymetry (SDB), previously used methods basically require supervised data for analysis, and cannot be used to analyze areas that are unreachable by boat or airplane. In this study, a mapping method for shallow water bathymetry was developed, using random forest machine learning and multi-temporal satellite images to create a generalized depth estimation model. A total of 135 Landsat-8 images, and a large amount of training bathymetry data for five areas were analyzed with the Google Earth Engine. The accuracy of SDB was evaluated by comparison with reference bathymetry data. The root mean square error in the final estimated water depth in the five test areas was 1.41 m for depths of 0 to 20 m. The SDB creation system developed in this study is expected to be applicable in various shallow water regions under highly transparent conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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20 pages, 4019 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Assessment of Turbidity and Chlorophyll Impact on Bathymetry Derived from Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-3A Satellites in South Florida
by Isabel Caballero, Richard P. Stumpf and Andrew Meredith
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(6), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11060645 - 16 Mar 2019
Cited by 87 | Viewed by 9064
Abstract
Evaluation of the impact of turbidity on satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is a crucial step for selecting optimal scenes and for addressing the limitations of SDB. This study examines the relatively high-resolution MultiSpectral instrument (MSI) onboard Sentinel-2A (10–20–60 m) and the moderate-resolution Ocean and [...] Read more.
Evaluation of the impact of turbidity on satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is a crucial step for selecting optimal scenes and for addressing the limitations of SDB. This study examines the relatively high-resolution MultiSpectral instrument (MSI) onboard Sentinel-2A (10–20–60 m) and the moderate-resolution Ocean and Land Color instrument (OLCI) onboard Sentinel-3A (300 m) for generating bathymetric maps through a conventional ratio transform model in environments with some turbidity in South Florida. Both sensors incorporate additional spectral bands in the red-edge near infrared (NIR) region, allowing turbidity detection in optically shallow waters. The ratio model only requires two calibration parameters for vertical referencing using available chart data, whereas independent lidar surveys are used for validation and error analysis. The MSI retrieves bathymetry at 10 m with errors of 0.58 m at depths ranging between 0–18 m (limit of lidar survey) in West Palm Beach and of 0.22 m at depths ranging between 0–5 m in Key West, in conditions with low turbidity. In addition, this research presents an assessment of the SDB depth limit caused by turbidity as determined with the reflectance of the red-edge bands at 709 nm (OLCI) and 704 nm (MSI) and a standard ocean color chlorophyll concentration. OLCI and MSI results are comparable, indicating the potential of the two optical missions as interchangeable sensors that can help determine the selection of the optimal scenes for SDB mapping. OLCI can provide temporal data to identify water quality characteristics and general SDB patterns. The relationship of turbidity with depth detection may help to enhance the operational use of SDB over environments with varying water transparency conditions, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions of the world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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Review

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32 pages, 9319 KiB  
Review
Monitoring Beach Topography and Nearshore Bathymetry Using Spaceborne Remote Sensing: A Review
by Edward Salameh, Frédéric Frappart, Rafael Almar, Paulo Baptista, Georg Heygster, Bertrand Lubac, Daniel Raucoules, Luis Pedro Almeida, Erwin W. J. Bergsma, Sylvain Capo, Marcello De Michele, Deborah Idier, Zhen Li, Vincent Marieu, Adrien Poupardin, Paulo A. Silva, Imen Turki and Benoit Laignel
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(19), 2212; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11192212 - 21 Sep 2019
Cited by 108 | Viewed by 10921
Abstract
With high anthropogenic pressure and the effects of climate change (e.g., sea level rise) on coastal regions, there is a greater need for accurate and up-to-date information about the topography of these systems. Reliable topography and bathymetry information are fundamental parameters for modelling [...] Read more.
With high anthropogenic pressure and the effects of climate change (e.g., sea level rise) on coastal regions, there is a greater need for accurate and up-to-date information about the topography of these systems. Reliable topography and bathymetry information are fundamental parameters for modelling the morpho-hydrodynamics of coastal areas, for flood forecasting, and for coastal management. Traditional methods such as ground, ship-borne, and airborne surveys suffer from limited spatial coverage and temporal sampling due to logistical constraints and high costs which limit their ability to provide the needed information. The recent advancements of spaceborne remote sensing techniques, along with their ability to acquire data over large spatial areas and to provide high frequency temporal monitoring, has made them very attractive for topography and bathymetry mapping. In this review, we present an overview of the current state of spaceborne-based remote sensing techniques used to estimate the topography and bathymetry of beaches, intertidal, and nearshore areas. We also provide some insights about the potential of these techniques when using data provided by new and future satellite missions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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Other

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16 pages, 3278 KiB  
Technical Note
Leveraging Commercial High-Resolution Multispectral Satellite and Multibeam Sonar Data to Estimate Bathymetry: The Case Study of the Caribbean Sea
by Samuel Pike, Dimosthenis Traganos, Dimitris Poursanidis, Jamie Williams, Katie Medcalf, Peter Reinartz and Nektarios Chrysoulakis
Remote Sens. 2019, 11(15), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11151830 - 6 Aug 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6150
Abstract
The global coastal seascape offers a multitude of ecosystem functions and services to the natural and human-induced ecosystems. However, the current anthropogenic global warming above pre-industrial levels is inducing the degradation of seascape health with adverse impacts on biodiversity, economy, and societies. Bathymetric [...] Read more.
The global coastal seascape offers a multitude of ecosystem functions and services to the natural and human-induced ecosystems. However, the current anthropogenic global warming above pre-industrial levels is inducing the degradation of seascape health with adverse impacts on biodiversity, economy, and societies. Bathymetric knowledge empowers our scientific, financial, and ecological understanding of the associated benefits, processes, and pressures to the coastal seascape. Here we leverage two commercial high-resolution multispectral satellite images of the Pleiades and two multibeam survey datasets to measure bathymetry in two zones (0–10 m and 10–30 m) in the tropical Anguilla and British Virgin Islands, northeast Caribbean. A methodological framework featuring a combination of an empirical linear transformation, cloud masking, sun-glint correction, and pseudo-invariant features allows spatially independent calibration and test of our satellite-derived bathymetry approach. The best R2 and RMSE for training and validation vary between 0.44–0.56 and 1.39–1.76 m, respectively, while minimum vertical errors are less than 1 m in the depth ranges of 7.8–10 and 11.6–18.4 m for the two explored zones. Given available field data, the present methodology could provide simple, time-efficient, and accurate spatio-temporal satellite-derived bathymetry intelligence in scientific and commercial tasks i.e., navigation, coastal habitat mapping and resource management, and reducing natural hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Derived Bathymetry)
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