Satellite-derived bathymetry using a radiative transfer-based method: A comparison of different atmospheric correction methods

Accurate bathymetry information, in form of maps of water depth, is essential for a wide variety of purposes including offshore activities (e.g., pipeline laying), resource management (e.g., fishery), and defense (e.g., navigation). In this study, we compared three atmospheric correction algorithms and used a radiative transfer model (RTM) to derive water depth from a multispectral image of an area from Florida, USA. Our results showed that with accurate atmospheric correction, water depth can be reasonably estimated up to 15 m, where optical conditions are favorable for the use of multispectral images.