EPA: Water Research Webinar Series

Applications of Multi-Source Remote Sensing for Assessment and Management of Surface Waters

Satellite imagery provides powerful datasets for understanding the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems across space and over time.  The amount of imagery and diversity of data types are rapidly growing as new sensors with increased resolution and coverage continue to be launched across the globe (e.g., Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1, NISAR, CubeSats). EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) is a leader in applied research to develop powerful, cost-efficient tools using advanced remote sensing to assess and manage aquatic resources for a range of regulatory and non-regulatory purposes. Here we present recent research integrating remote sensing with widely-used geospatial tools to (1) assess restoration success in Western headwater streams; (2) quantify the effects of irrigation practices on riparian condition in the Upper Missouri River watershed; and (3) detect changes in wetland extent in Mid-Atlantic Region.