Estimating near-shore bathymetry using SAR

Abstract

Presents two algorithms for estimating near-shore bathymetry from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The first algorithm utilizes the kinematics of the shoaling waves to extract depths under the assumption of no significant current in the direction of wave propagation. The second algorithm utilizes the average radar cross section to estimate the rate of wave energy dissipation due to breaking, and then relates this dissipation to water depth. The two algorithms are complimentary in where they can estimate water depths; the kinematics algorithms works outside of the surf zone while the energy dissipation algorithm works within the surf zone so together they can span the near-shore region. The authors first present the airborne SAR data set that was used to test the algorithms, then they discuss each algorithm, including results from the SAR data set.