Bathymetric data for Israeli coastal micro-estuaries

Area of Science:

• Coastal geomorphology
• Hydrographic surveying
• Marine data acquisition

Background:

• Micro-estuaries are vital coastal ecosystems.
• Accurate bathymetric data is crucial for understanding estuarine dynamics.
• Previous bathymetric data for these specific Israeli estuaries was limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present bathymetric data from seven Israeli coastal micro-estuaries.
• To detail the methodology for data collection and processing.
• To provide raw and processed data in accessible formats.

Main Methods:

• Bathymetric data collected using an echosounder and GPS mounted on a kayak.
• Data processing involved outlier removal and water level correction to sea level.
• Interpolation using a terrain-following algorithm created a regular grid.

Main Results:

• Comprehensive bathymetric datasets generated for Lachish, Sorek, Yarkon, Alexander, Hadera, Taninim, and Kishon estuaries.
• Raw measurement (CSV) and interpolated (CSV, GeoTiff) data files produced for each estuary.
• Methodology ensures data accuracy and usability for further research.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully mapped the bathymetry of seven Israeli micro-estuaries.
• The provided datasets offer valuable resources for coastal management and research.
• The kayak-based methodology proved effective for surveying these environments.