Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)

Coastal zones close to big river systems are hydrodynamically characterized by inland and open ocean waters. Satellite altimetry data have recently been scientifically exploited in coastal zones. However, more efforts are still needed in terms of using these data in new applications in the coastal s...

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Main Authors: Jesus Gomez-Enri, A. Aldarias, R. Mulero-Martinez, S. Vignudelli, M. Bruno, R. Mananes, A. Izquierdo, M. Fernandez-Barba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2024-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10380696/
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author Jesus Gomez-Enri
A. Aldarias
R. Mulero-Martinez
S. Vignudelli
M. Bruno
R. Mananes
A. Izquierdo
M. Fernandez-Barba
author_facet Jesus Gomez-Enri
A. Aldarias
R. Mulero-Martinez
S. Vignudelli
M. Bruno
R. Mananes
A. Izquierdo
M. Fernandez-Barba
author_sort Jesus Gomez-Enri
collection DOAJ
description Coastal zones close to big river systems are hydrodynamically characterized by inland and open ocean waters. Satellite altimetry data have recently been scientifically exploited in coastal zones. However, more efforts are still needed in terms of using these data in new applications in the coastal strip. Our study analyzes the capability of the European Space Agency CryoSat-2 satellite to measure the sea level elevation associated with bulge-like lens of less salty waters from river discharges, spreading into the adjacent coastal zones. We analyze four events of high river freshwater discharges in two river estuaries in Spain: Guadalquivir and Ebro. We obtain along-track Absolute Dynamic Topography from CryoSat-2 satellite during these events and compare them with periods of low discharge conditions. In three of the events, the bulges increase the sea level between 5 and 10 cm with respect to the sea level observed in low / normal discharge conditions. The extension of the lens is far from the estuary mouth: more than 25 km from the coast in the case of the Guadalquivir River and about 50 km for the Ebro River. The wind regime and the surface circulation explain the lack of a higher sea level in one of the events analyzed.
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publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher IEEE
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series IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-b0fd67dca2894ce79401ba641b2817892025-08-20T03:01:27ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing1939-14042151-15352024-01-01173587359910.1109/JSTARS.2024.334969210380696Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)Jesus Gomez-Enri0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-5160A. Aldarias1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3964-8712R. Mulero-Martinez2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1736-907XS. Vignudelli3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9038-5914M. Bruno4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9415-3264R. Mananes5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1987-478XA. Izquierdo6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3842-1460M. Fernandez-Barba7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8953-2481Applied Physics Department, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, SpainPhysical Oceanography Department, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Cadiz, SpainApplied Physics Department, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, SpainInstitute of Biophysics (CNR), Pisa, ItalyApplied Physics Department, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, SpainApplied Physics Department, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, SpainApplied Physics Department, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Science of Andalusia, Puerto Real, SpainCoastal zones close to big river systems are hydrodynamically characterized by inland and open ocean waters. Satellite altimetry data have recently been scientifically exploited in coastal zones. However, more efforts are still needed in terms of using these data in new applications in the coastal strip. Our study analyzes the capability of the European Space Agency CryoSat-2 satellite to measure the sea level elevation associated with bulge-like lens of less salty waters from river discharges, spreading into the adjacent coastal zones. We analyze four events of high river freshwater discharges in two river estuaries in Spain: Guadalquivir and Ebro. We obtain along-track Absolute Dynamic Topography from CryoSat-2 satellite during these events and compare them with periods of low discharge conditions. In three of the events, the bulges increase the sea level between 5 and 10 cm with respect to the sea level observed in low / normal discharge conditions. The extension of the lens is far from the estuary mouth: more than 25 km from the coast in the case of the Guadalquivir River and about 50 km for the Ebro River. The wind regime and the surface circulation explain the lack of a higher sea level in one of the events analyzed.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10380696/Absolute dynamic topography (ADT)coastal hydrologyCryoSat-2river dischargesatellite altimetry
spellingShingle Jesus Gomez-Enri
A. Aldarias
R. Mulero-Martinez
S. Vignudelli
M. Bruno
R. Mananes
A. Izquierdo
M. Fernandez-Barba
Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Absolute dynamic topography (ADT)
coastal hydrology
CryoSat-2
river discharge
satellite altimetry
title Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
title_full Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
title_fullStr Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
title_full_unstemmed Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
title_short Satellite Radar Altimetry Supporting Coastal Hydrology: Case Studies of Guadalquivir River Estuary and Ebro River Delta (Spain)
title_sort satellite radar altimetry supporting coastal hydrology case studies of guadalquivir river estuary and ebro river delta spain
topic Absolute dynamic topography (ADT)
coastal hydrology
CryoSat-2
river discharge
satellite altimetry
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10380696/
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