Shallow waters represent potential risks to navigation inside estuaries. Therefore, they must be well described and data must be always updated. Traditional hydrographic methods have difficult to cover shallow areas due to them extension and low relief. An alternative is the use of satellite images for mapping the areas, with the advantage of low cost and quick results. In the north area of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex the last bathymetric survey was in the 50's so a new bathymetric mapping of these areas, even without the nautical chart's accuracy, is useful for studies planning, environmental modeling and small boats navigation. This study had the objective of generate bathymetric map of shallow areas in the Laranjeiras bay through remote sensing. The application of this method is not difficult and could be very useful in regions were there is no bathymetric data or need to be updated. The map obtained is very realistic inside the limits of 0,36 to 4,5 m water depth and important considering that nearly 75% of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex have depths less than 5 m.
shallow waters; remote sensing; bathymetry; Landsat
