Monitoring Mudflat Morphodynamics along the Coast of Guyana using Synthetic Aperture Radar

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Mudflats, along with their dense mangrove forests and other coastal zone ecosystems, reduce wave energy efficiently and act as natural seas defences. This study provides an assessment of the inter-annual morphodynamics of mudflats along the coast of Guyana using a time-series of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery over six years (2015-2020) in two sites along the coast of Guyana. We demonstrate that recent advancements and availability of SAR remote sensing data allow for effective monitoring of mudflat formation. Sentinel-1 images collected over the study sites were processed and analysed using Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS to observe the morphological evolution of mudflats and identify areas of erosion and accretion at the sampled sites. The analyses show that the dynamics of the mudflats are governed by feedback from various hydrodynamic and coastal processes, principally tidal currents and waves, operating over different temporal and spatial scales. Guyana's coastal zone is essential for economic and social development, ecological restoration and the preservation of natural resources and vulnerable ecosystems that thrive in this environment. The results of this study highlight the significant mudbank movement in influencing the coastal ecosystem processes at the study sites.

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• Urban & Regional Planning & Sustainable Development