Mapping of Coastal Changes Applying Maps, Satellite Images and GIS in Samborombón Bay, Argentina

Abstract

The study area is the Samborombón Bay in the Atlantic Ocean in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Its coastline experiences important stressors by natural and/or anthropogenic influences. The main goal of this study was to develop a methodology to estimate and identify the changes in the coastal line in Samborombón Bay by mean of the integration of historic topographic maps (years 1936-41/68/71), satellite charts (years: 1994-96) and multitemporal satellite images of Spot (year 1998), Landsat 5 TM (year 2004) and SAC-C (year 2005), the first Argentinean satellite for land observation. An extensive progradation process was registered in the centre and in the south (Punta Rasa) of the bay. New island formation was also observed in the centre of the bay. On the contrary, slight erosion of the coast line was observed in the north of the bay (Punta Piedras). The applied methods and the obtained results were very useful to detect the coastal changes and to update the cartographic information in this wetland.