Morpho-Dynamic Changes Based on Multitemporal Sentinel-2 Imagery in The Kungkai Baru Estuary, Bengkulu

Abstract Monitoring estuarine morpho-dynamics is critical to understanding interactions between freshwater and marine environments, especially in dynamic ecosystems like the Kungkai Baru Estuary. Seasonal closures of the estuary, lasting from two to six months, lead to notable ecological and geomorphological shifts, affecting sedimentation, water quality, and biodiversity. This study utilized multitemporal Sentinel-2 imagery to analyze morpho-dynamic changes in the estuary from 2019 to 2024. Three image processing techniques—Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) for water detection, supervised classification for land cover differentiation (water, sand, wet sand, vegetation), and change detection for morphological tracking—were employed to reveal seasonal patterns linked to sedimentation, erosion, and vegetation growth. Findings demonstrate distinct seasonal land cover dynamics driven by natural estuary mouth closures and tidal exchanges, which influence sediment and vegetation distribution. The results highlight Sentinel-2’s effectiveness in temporal and spectral monitoring of estuarine changes, though limitations in spatial resolution and cloud cover in tropical regions remain challenges. This research provides valuable insights for estuarine ecosystem management and underscores Sentinel-2’s utility in tracking morpho-dynamic changes to inform sustainable conservation strategies.