POSTER Session 1

Coastal Bathymetry Mapping Using Sentinel-2: A case study in the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain)

Shallow bathymetry is key for monitoring coastal management, supporting socio-economic activities and understanding coastal resilience to climate change impacts, yet traditional measurement methods face logistical and economic challenges. Remote sensing, particularly with the availability of high-resolution satellite data such as Sentinel-2, offers a promising alternative. In recent decades, numerous researchers have developed different techniques of Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB), each with its own precision, limitations, and applications. Existing models, however, primarily function effectively in clear water environments. We have developed a semi-automatic methodology for obtaining shallow bathymetric data in moderately turbid zones using the Sentinel-2A/B fleet. This methodology integrates various automatic algorithms, including an atmospheric and sunglint correction, using ACOLITE’s DSF model, a physics-based model, a multi-scene algorithm for turbidity correction and a depth-sensitive automatic switching model. The methodology is applied in three different environments in NW Spain (Cíes Islands, Vao beach and Baiona Bay) with mesotidal regimes. Results, with mean median absolute errors ranging from 0.35 to 1.24 m for depths up to 14 m, demonstrate optimal precision under varying atmospheric conditions, water quality, and benthic substrate types. The validation findings are consistent with prior research, demonstrating the reliability and accuracy of the implemented methodology without requiring pre-selection of scenes. This study promotes coastal remote sensing by evaluating a robust strategy that generates high-resolution shallow bathymetry, utilizing freely accessible data from the Copernicus program.

Sandra Viaña-Borja, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia,  Spanish National Research Council (ICMAN CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9541-0015

Rita González-Villanueva, Marine Research Centre (CIM), Universidad de Vigo, Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6583-2348

Irene Alejo Flores, Marine Research Centre (CIM), Universidad de Vigo, Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5711-6029

Richard Stumpf, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA National Ocean Service, USA, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5531-6860

Gabriel Navarro, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia,  Spanish National Research Council (ICMAN CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8919-0060

Isabel Caballero, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia,  Spanish National Research Council (ICMAN CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7485-0989

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