Poster H31E-1158

Session H31E: Remote Sensing of Riverscape Topography

Mapping gravel bed river bathymetry from space

Carl J. Legleiter and Brandon T. Overstreet Department of Geography, University of Wyoming
3. Methods: remotely sensed data and spectrally-based depth retrieval
We considered various image data types (multispectral, panchromatic, and pansharpened) and calibration approaches (linear vs. quadratic OBRA of image spectra, OBRA of field spectra) and found that simple image-based linear OBRA provided accurate bathymetric information. For the Snake, residual maps showed that pool depths were underestimated due to saturation of the radiance signal in deeper water. Accuracy assessment using a validation subset of field data indicated a strong agreement between predicted and observed depths and a typical error of 0.24 m.
Rusty Bend, Snake River: WV2 image-derived bathymetric map Rusty Bend, Snake River: Depth retrieval residuals

1. Introduction and research objectives

Understanding river form and behavior requires an efficient means of measuring channel morphology. Similarly, a synoptic perspective is needed to characterize fluvial systems across larger watershed extents. Conventional field methods are inadequate for this task, but remote sensing has emerged as a viable alternative. This study used field measurements and satellite images to evaluate the potential for mapping the bathymetry of gravel bed rivers from space. Depth information is valuable for many different purposes, including estimation of discharge, parameterization of hydraulic models, assessment of habitat quality, and inference of sediment transport rates from morphologic changes. Previous research has demonstrated the potential utility of remote sensing for depth retrieval in certain types of rivers. Whereas prior work has focused on aerial images, this study assessed the feasibility of measuring gravel bed river depths from a satellite platform. Our research objectives were to: (1) characterize the inherent optical properties of the water column; (2) establish relationships between depth and reflectance based on field spectra; and (3) evaluate different approaches for calibrating image-derived quantities to flow depth; and (4) assess the accuracy of depth estimates produced from various types of satellite image data.

5. Results: bathymetric mapping

To evaluate the feasibility of mapping river bathymetry from space, we used WorldView-2 (WV2) satellite images acquired 9/13/2011. Multispectral data consisted of 2 m pixels with 8 bands spanning the visible and near-infrared (NIR); panchromatic images featured a higher spatial resolution (0.5 m). Masks highlighting the instream portion of each image were generated and a smoothing spatial filter applied. Information on water depth was obtained using Optimal Band Ratio Analysis (OBRA). Although at-sensor radiance depends not only on depth but also bottom reflectance and other factors, previous research has shown that the logarithm of the ratio of two bands yields an image-derived quantity X linearly related to depth d. OBRA identifies the band combination that yields the strongest d vs. X relationship, as illustrated in this example based on field spectra.

SBC: bathymetry

SBC: residuals

We examined two clear-flowing gravel bed streams, the Snake River and Soda Butte Creek (SBC), that feature complex morphology and highly dynamic behavior that all but necessitate a remote sensing approach for effective mapping and monitoring. Our Rusty Bend site Rusty Bend, on the Snake River Snake River spanned a range of depths up to 3 m and encompassed various bottom types including bright clay bedrock. The smaller size of Soda Butte Creek lead to many Footbridge Reach, mixed pixels Soda Butte Creek along banks, complicating retrieval of water depth. Field data included depth measurements obtained via wading on SBC and shallow portions of the Snake, with locations defined via RTK GPS. For deeper areas of the Snake, depths were recorded by an echo sounder and an acoustic Doppler current profiler deployed from a cataraft and kayak, respectively. To estimate pixel-scale mean depths from these point measurements, we used geostatistical techniques including coordinate transformation to a channel-centered frame of reference, variogram modeling, and ordinary block kriging. To quantify the optical characteristics of these streams, we measured reflectance spectra from above the water surface on transects across Rusty Bend and at discrete points on SBC. Water column attenuation was characterized by measuring the downwelling spectral irradiance at various depths and using these data to calculate the diffuse attenuation coefficient Kd. In addition, a WET Labs ac-9 was used to directly measure two inherent optical properties of the water column: the absorption and attenuation coefficients a and c. Ancillary data included turbidity and water samples analyzed for suspended sediment concentration (SSC). These optical data allowed us to examine two important constraints on remote sensing of bathymetry: the precision of depth estimates and the maximum depth detectable by an imaging system.

2. Methods: study areas and field data

In situ measurements of water column attenuation confirmed the exceptional clarity of both streams; turbidity and SSC were minimal. Kd values were used to calculate depth retrieval precision and dynamic range. At 700 nm, the smallest detectable change in depth was < 0.05 m for depths up to 1 m for a sensor with moderate radiometric sensitivity. Maximum detectable depths were up to 10 m In the green for highly sensitive instruments, indicated by small values of the ratio the sensors noise equivalent delta radiance to the bottom-reflected radiance (shown in legend). OBRA of field spectra from the Snake River (shown above) and SBC resulted in strong, linear d vs. X relations, with R2 values of 0.887 and 0.975. For the Snake, the ratio of a green to a red band yielded accurate depth estimates despite pronounced variations in bottom reflectance associated with exposed bedrock (photo at left). This transect indicates that the ratio-based algorithm was robust to substrate heterogeneity. For the shallower depths observed on SBC, the optimal band ratio shifted to NIR wavelengths that were highly responsive to subtle changes in depth.

4. Results: a) River optical characteristics

For SBC, mixed pixels were problematic, resulting in negative depth estimates along banks. Pool depths were underestimated and OP regressions resulted in smaller R2 values.

6. Conclusions and has been hindered by the difficulty of future work Understanding of river morphodynamics
measuring channel form and behavior via conventional field methods. This study explored the potential to map river bathymetry from passive optical satellite images. Our results indicate that water depths in clear-flowing, mid- to large-sized gravel bed rivers can be estimated reliably from high resolution (2 m pixel) multispectral data. We made direct measurements of water column optical properties to quantify constraints on depth retrieval: depending on sensor radiometric resolution, bathymetric precision was on the order of 0.05 m and maximum detectable depths varied spectrally from >5 m in the green to <2 m in the NIR. A simple, band ratiobased algorithm for selecting wavelength combinations and calibrating d vs. X relations, called OBRA, proved effective when applied to spectra recorded in the field or extracted from an image. Depth retrieval accuracy was not improved by adding a quadratic term, applying a calibration relation derived from field spectra, or using a pan-sharpened image with smaller pixels. These results imply that the simple linear OBRA of image spectra was an effective technique and that spectral information was crucial to reliable depth retrieval. We conclude that under appropriate conditions (i.e., clear, shallow water), river bathymetry can be mapped from space. Future work will focus on identifying various bottom types from remotely sensed data.
Financial support was provided by the Office of Naval Research (Grant #N000141010873). The National Park Service allowed us to conduct this study in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and the UW-NPS Research Center and Yellowstone Ecological Research Center provided logistical support. The Naval Research Lab and USGS loaned field equipment. Gregory Miecznik of DigitalGlobe coordinated WV2 image acquisition. C.L. Rawlins and Floyd Legleiter assisted with field work. The editor, associate editor, and three anonymous reviewers for JGR-Earth Surface provided valuable comments on a paper summarizing this study.

b) Field spectra: depth-reflectance relations

c)moreImage spectra: linear vs. quadratic OBRA A direct means of mapping bathymetry from
remotely sensed data involved extracting image spectra from the locations of field-based depth measurements and using these data to perform OBRA. This approach yielded the strong d vs. X relation shown here for Rusty Bend, where depths ranged up to 3 m. In larger rivers such as the Snake, saturation of the radiance signal might lead to a nonlinear relation and preclude depth retrieval from pools. Adding an X2 term to the regression yielded only a marginal improvement in predictive power, although the NIR bands became more useful.

6. Acknowledgements

7. Contactofinformation: Carl J. Legleiter Department Geography E-mail: Carl.Legleiter@uwyo.edu

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