Utility of hyperspectral data for bathymetric mapping in a turbid estuary

Hyperspectral data acquired by Geophysical Environmental Research (GER) Imaging Spectrometer were used for remote bathymetry in the Hudson/ Raritan estuarine waters. Characteristics of the GER image verified by in situ sea truth data indicated that water quality parameters, (i.e., organic/inorganic particulate), were largely uniform during the time of data acquisition. This condition coupled with the uniformity of bottom type provided an opportunity for quantitative bathymetric mapping. Bathymetric data were obtained from a direct ship sampling/bathymetry survey. GER data were used to simulate the spectral response of Landsat-5 TM to define advantages of GER data for bathymetric mapping. It was concluded that under the attending conditions radiometric resolution is at least as important as hyperspectral selectivity for bathymetric applications. However the potential for hyperspectral instruments such as GER to increase radiometric resolution by integrating data within optimal band-widths must be considered a significant advantage for bathymetric mapping.