Data Assimilation for Bathymetry Estimation at a Tidal Inlet

Abstract

AbstractThis study involved developing and testing a data assimilation framework that accommodates different types of geophysical ocean data (i.e., surface velocity and wave information) and provides an estimation of the bathymetry of a mixed-energy tidal inlet. This framework was successfully applied to a highly variable tidal environment using synthetic data (twin test). The synthetic data consisted of surface velocity components associated with the tidal circulation and wavenumber–frequency pairs of incoming surface gravity waves that mimic data that could be derived from an airborne synthetic aperture radar system and a tower-mounted X-band radar system, respectively. The present ensemble-based assimilation framework has previously been applied in both wave-dominated coastal and current-dominated riverine environments. In contrast, the inlet environment is neither wave nor current dominated. The assimilation of wave and current data together was most useful to obtain a skillful estimate of the spatial map of bathymetry.