engleski

Optimal Conditions for Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) - Case Study of the Adriatic Sea

Sea depth data was by far the most expensive spatial data. Traditional hydrographic surveys performed using large and expensive research vessels have resulted in fact that at least 50% of the total global area of the continental shelf (shelf depth is shallower than 200 m) was unsurveyed or surveyed with horizontal and vertical inadequate accuracy defined according to IHO S-44 standards. Therefore we need to find new methods of bathymetric survey. One of these methods is relatively new method called “Satellite Derived Bathymetry” (SDB), similar or sub variant to the LIDAR bathymetry survey method. SDB uses satellite or other remote multispectral imagery for depth determination. This method is founded on analytical modelling of light penetration through the water column in visible and infrared bands. In this research SDB will be used in the middle Adriatic Sea, which has the specificity of the shallow archipelago sea. The research of optical characteristics in the coastal area of the middle Adriatic Sea, which cover channel areas and semi-enclosed bays which are far from the river mouths, indicated that oceanic optical water type II was observed (according to Jerlov classification) where euphotic zone (1% PAR) reaches below 45 m. In this paper SENTINEL 2 satellites free of charge data are used to estimate the sea depths in the wider area of Murterski Kanal channel in the middle Adriatic Sea. It is concluded that the depth gradients and coastline are actually very well surveyed by using SDB method, while individual shoals are not revealed because of the low spatial resolution of SDB method.

Satellite Derived Bathymetry ; hydrography ; Adriatic Sea

Research activities presented in this paper were conducted under the VIF research project "Maritime meteorological observations and research" supported by the University of Split-Faculty of Maritime Studies, Croatia.