Freshwater wetlands can be an important source of groundwater recharge and
water in arid and semiarid areas. High spatial resolution (0.6–4.0 m) satellite and
airborne hyperspectral sensors have significantly improved the capacity for mapping freshwater wetlands. However, the cost per sq. km. of imagery and the
accompanying analysis rises very rapidly as one goes from medium-resolution
(e.g., 30 m) to high-resolution imagery. Airborne geo-referenced digital cameras
are particularly suitable for mapping small freshwater wetland sites. To detect
changes of water level in wetlands, InSAR is being used. InSAR provides high
spatial resolution hydrologic observations of wetlands and floodplains that cannot
be obtained by any terrestrial-based methods.
Airborne and satellite remote sensors are showing considerable promise for
detecting, mapping, and monitoring surface water, soil moisture, freshwater
springs, and associated vegetation in arid and semiarid regions of the Earth.
Satellite-based remote sensing of groundwater is still an unresolved problem. At
present, the best that can be achieved with satellite sensors is to determine the
spatial distribution of groundwater discharge and recharge areas, storage changes
over large areas, or measurement of surface water heads in large water bodies.
Combining satellite measurements with physically based models seems to offer
renewed hope for detecting groundwater aquifers.
References
1. Asadi SS, Rani N, Vasantha Rao BVT, Raju MV (2012) Estimation of groundwater potential
zones using remote sensing and GIS: a model study. Int J Adv Sci Res Tech 2:265–275
2. Sharma KD, Singh S, Singh N, Kalla AK (1989) Role of satellite remote sensing for
monitoring of surface water resources in an arid environment. Hydrol Sci J 34:531–537
3. Yan E, Milewski A, Sultan M, Abdeldayem A, Soliman F, Abdel Gelil K (2010) Remote
sensing based approach to improve regional estimation of renewable water resources for
sustainable development. In: Proceedings of US-Egypt workshop on space technology and
geo-information for sustainable development, Cairo, Egypt, 14–17 June 2010
4. Odum EP (1993) Ecology and our endangered life-support systems, 2nd edn. Sinauer,
Sunderland, p 320
5. Krajewski WF, Smith JA (2002) Radar hydrology: rainfall estimation. Adv Water Resour
25:1387–1394
6. Jha MK, Chowdhury A, Chowdary VM, Peiffer S (2007) Groundwater management and
development by integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems: prospects
and constraints. Water Resour Manag 21:427–467
7. Sener E, Davraz A, Ozcelik M (2005) An integration of GIS and remote sensing in groundwater investigations: a case study in Burdur, Turkey. Hydrogeol J 13:826–834
8. Solomon S, Quiel F (2006) Groundwater study using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the central highlands of Eritrea. Hydrogeol J 14:1029–1041
9. Becker MW (2006) Potential for satellite remote sensing of ground water. Ground Water
44:306–318
10. Brutsaert W (2005) Hydrology: an introduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p
605
11. Gamo M, Shinoda M, Maeda T (2013) Classification of arid lands, including soil degradation
and irrigated areas, based on vegetation and aridity indices. Int J Remote Sens 34:6701–6722
54
V. Klemas and A. Pieterse
water in arid and semiarid areas. High spatial resolution (0.6–4.0 m) satellite and
airborne hyperspectral sensors have significantly improved the capacity for mapping freshwater wetlands. However, the cost per sq. km. of imagery and the
accompanying analysis rises very rapidly as one goes from medium-resolution
(e.g., 30 m) to high-resolution imagery. Airborne geo-referenced digital cameras
are particularly suitable for mapping small freshwater wetland sites. To detect
changes of water level in wetlands, InSAR is being used. InSAR provides high
spatial resolution hydrologic observations of wetlands and floodplains that cannot
be obtained by any terrestrial-based methods.
Airborne and satellite remote sensors are showing considerable promise for
detecting, mapping, and monitoring surface water, soil moisture, freshwater
springs, and associated vegetation in arid and semiarid regions of the Earth.
Satellite-based remote sensing of groundwater is still an unresolved problem. At
present, the best that can be achieved with satellite sensors is to determine the
spatial distribution of groundwater discharge and recharge areas, storage changes
over large areas, or measurement of surface water heads in large water bodies.
Combining satellite measurements with physically based models seems to offer
renewed hope for detecting groundwater aquifers.
References
1. Asadi SS, Rani N, Vasantha Rao BVT, Raju MV (2012) Estimation of groundwater potential
zones using remote sensing and GIS: a model study. Int J Adv Sci Res Tech 2:265–275
2. Sharma KD, Singh S, Singh N, Kalla AK (1989) Role of satellite remote sensing for
monitoring of surface water resources in an arid environment. Hydrol Sci J 34:531–537
3. Yan E, Milewski A, Sultan M, Abdeldayem A, Soliman F, Abdel Gelil K (2010) Remote
sensing based approach to improve regional estimation of renewable water resources for
sustainable development. In: Proceedings of US-Egypt workshop on space technology and
geo-information for sustainable development, Cairo, Egypt, 14–17 June 2010
4. Odum EP (1993) Ecology and our endangered life-support systems, 2nd edn. Sinauer,
Sunderland, p 320
5. Krajewski WF, Smith JA (2002) Radar hydrology: rainfall estimation. Adv Water Resour
25:1387–1394
6. Jha MK, Chowdhury A, Chowdary VM, Peiffer S (2007) Groundwater management and
development by integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems: prospects
and constraints. Water Resour Manag 21:427–467
7. Sener E, Davraz A, Ozcelik M (2005) An integration of GIS and remote sensing in groundwater investigations: a case study in Burdur, Turkey. Hydrogeol J 13:826–834
8. Solomon S, Quiel F (2006) Groundwater study using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the central highlands of Eritrea. Hydrogeol J 14:1029–1041
9. Becker MW (2006) Potential for satellite remote sensing of ground water. Ground Water
44:306–318
10. Brutsaert W (2005) Hydrology: an introduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p
605
11. Gamo M, Shinoda M, Maeda T (2013) Classification of arid lands, including soil degradation
and irrigated areas, based on vegetation and aridity indices. Int J Remote Sens 34:6701–6722
54
V. Klemas and A. Pieterse