SWOT for Enhancing Marine Bathymetry Relevant to Australia

Principle Investigator: Xiaoli Deng (The University of Newcastle)

Co-Investigator(s): Richard Coleman, Ole Andersen, Farshad Salajegheh, Fukai Peng, Zahra Gharineiat, Armin Agha Karimi

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Detailed knowledge of marine bathymetry (or seafloor topography) is crucial to understand our planet, yet the vast majority of the seafloor is still virtually unmapped and unexplored by the sparse quality ship survey measurements due to the time-consuming and costly on-site surveys. This project aims at developing new methodology for improvement of marine bathymetry by taking advantage of spatially comprehensive and unprecedented data, not have been possible before, from the new radar satellite altimeter mission: SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography, launched on 16 December 2022). Data from the advanced SWOT satellite sensors when combined with available multi-altimeter missions provide a great opportunity for improving the marine gravity and thereby enhancing the bathometry, but also a challenge of how to be benefitted from the full potential of new SWOT datasets. This project will develop novel and advanced algorithm schemes to exploit the new fine-scale data and to integrate the new datasets from SWOT with those from laser altimeter and existing satellite altimeters and ship surveys. This will significantly enhance the marine bathymetry continued from deep oceans to shallow coastal zones, with the best-possible accuracy and spatial resolution for Australia.