Detection of salient features in surface current maps from dopplerized X-band radar

The mapping of the near surface currents and their interaction with the spatial and temporal varying bottom topography is of high significance for the experimental analysis of morphodynamic processes in coastal areas and the monitoring the effectiveness of coastal protection actions. An efficient application is also the real-time monitoring of currents in harbours to pilot large vessels [8]. The next steps of this inquiry are the application of image processing methods to extract also, together with the orientation, length scales and spatial shifts of salient current features. The correlation with salient features of the bed topography will be analyzed further together with sea state images that can also be deduced from radar data.