Through a UK Space Agency-funded project, the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has used satellite data to record changes in areas exposed at low tide at the River Mersey in Liverpool.
Fresh insights into the River Mersey
The project, run in partnership with the Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO) and Peel Ports Group, analyzed data from optical and radar satellite images combined with information from the Gladstone tide gauge, which sits within the Old Lock Keeper’s Office at the entrance to Gladstone Dock, in Liverpool.
These were further combined with fine-scale water level data from the new Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, launched in December 2023, that enabled more precise estimates of tidal water levels right across the estuary.
The analysis enabled the team to map changes in the riverbed from 2018 to 2023. These maps provide a clearer picture of how the river is evolving, helping experts plan dredging operations more effectively and avoid unnecessary costs.
Unlocking space for business
The NOC’s Dr Paul Bell, co-lead on the project, explained, “The phenomenal advances in the capabilities of the latest satellites are fueling a revolution in our ability to observe complex and dynamic areas like the Mersey Estuary on a regular basis.
“We are combining these new satellite capabilities with cutting-edge algorithms developed at the NOC that distil this huge volume of data into 3D maps of the estuary that we can turn into movies showing how the sandbanks and channels move around.”
According to the team, the success of this project builds on years of research and development funded across multiple projects and puts Liverpool at the forefront of using technology to address challenges in coastal management, with the potential for these methods to benefit other parts of the UK.
Lydia Green, head of Unlocking Space for Investment Program, UK Space Agency, said, “A key aim of the Unlocking Space for Business program is to support businesses to benefit from the use of satellite solutions by addressing key sector challenges. NOC’s project is a great example of how satellite data can be used to deliver operational efficiencies within UK ports and gives the organization a competitive edge with new insights into coastal areas.”
Christine Sams, one of the project leads at NOC at the time, added, “This project shows how cutting-edge satellite technology can help us understand the physical changes happening in dynamic environments like the River Mersey. It’s an exciting step forward for managing coastal areas like Liverpool and beyond.”
In related news, UCL, NOC and ENS recently deployed machine learning and lidar to study breaking waves. Click here to read the full story.