Monitoring Storm-Surge Events in Coastal Zones Using Satellite Data

Wind-driven fluctuations of seawater level are often a danger to coastal regions. The work investigates the utility of satellite multispectral optical sensors for operational diagnostics of wind setup/setdown consequences such as coast flooding and sea bottom drying. A technique to monitor such events was elaborated using the case of an extreme wind setdown in the Taganrog Bay of the Azov Sea in November 2019. The technique was further tested for storm-surge events in the Northeast Caspian Sea. The SWIR bands of Sentinel-2A / B MSI and Landsat-8 OLI / TIRS instruments were found to ensure the best performance results. The availability of meteorological data (wind speed and direction) at points closest to the study region was crucial for correct interpretation of satellite data.