Letter: Ocean bathymetry reconstruction from surface data using hydraulics theory

Here we propose a technique that successfully reconstructs ocean bathymetry from the free surface velocity and elevation data. This technique is based on the principles of open-channel hydraulics, according to which a sub-critical flow over a seamount creates a free surface dip. The proposed method recognizes that such a free surface dip contains the signature of the bottom topography, hence inverts the free surface to reconstruct the topography accurately. We applied our inversion technique on re-analysis data and reconstructed the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea bathymetries of 1/12° resolution with approximately 90% accuracy.