Table of Contents

Hydrology

Many applications can be developed to take advantage of RADARSAT's capacity for detecting the presence of water.These include monitoring flooding and the buildup of river ice, and mapping the melting of snow-covered areas.

As the image shows, RADARSAT provides excellent land/water delineation. In this image, the forest cover and floodplain appear in tones of grey, while the water is distinctly black. The forests along the Amazon River and nearby lakes in Brazil experience seasonal flooding, and with the use of multi-temporal RADARSAT images, these areas can be mapped.

When used for flood monitoring, RADARSAT data helps assess the impact of flooding, predict the extent and duration of floodwaters, analyze the environmental impact of water diversion projects, and develop flood mitigation measures.

For more information on hydrological applications for RADARSAT, see the MDA website.