Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) for marine shipping corridors in Nunavut, Canada (NGMP ID 16EC37)

The purpose of this study is to develop and test approaches to satellite derived bathymetry (SDB) for shallow waters in Nunavut, and thus evaluate the ability of the highly cost-effective technology to improve bathymetric knowledge. As part of the test, shallow-water bathymetry was mapped for the seven largest coastal communities in Nunavut (Frobisher Bay/Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, Igloolik, and Kugluktuk) and discrepancies between satellite-derived water depths and existing charts were detected. The research intends to answer the following questions: 1) can the shallow portions of the safest possible marine shipping corridors, for community resupply, mining, and general freight shipping, be charted in detail? 2) Do any areas require buoys, safety markers, or lighthouses? The short-term objectives are to test two SDB approaches for shallow-water areas near the seven communities, test the difference between water depth accuracies achieved when using different satellite data, and use radiative transfer simulations to identify the largest sources of uncertainty. The long-term objective is to develop a validated procedure for producing reliable data on bathymetry for Nunavut and to apply this procedure to produce the best possible information on bathymetry for shallow sections of marine shipping corridors in Nunavut.