Monitoring the bathymetry of the Ameland ebb-tidal delta using X-band radar data

Abstract

Ebb-tidal deltas are important for coastal safety as they dissipate storm waves and are a (temporary) source of sediment for the back barrier basin and the barrier islands. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor the development of this shallow feature that is present seaward of the Ameland tidal inlet. Remote sensing techniques are a promising solution to derive information with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this case, radar images collected by the radar system on the lighthouse on Ameland are used. From these images, the propagation of waves on the sea surface can be identified. Subsequently, the relation between water depth and the propagation speeds of these waves can be used to determine the bathymetry. In this research, two different depth derivations methods (XMFit and cBathy) are tested to determine how the most accurate bathymetry can be derived.