Thesis subject
MGI thesis topic: The extend and dynamics of meandering rivers in the Amazon Basin
Meandering rivers, characterized by their winding curves and bends, play a pivotal role in shaping diverse riparian ecosystems. These sinuous rivers, along with the resulting oxbow lakes, are crucial for maintaining biodiversity within these ecosystems. The process of river meander migration, which involves the natural alteration of the river's course, contributes to the dynamic nature of these habitats.
Floodplains associated with meandering rivers are vital for local communities, supporting various livelihoods through practices such as fishing. The unique environments created by meanders offer rich habitats for a wide range of species, contributing to high levels of biodiversity. Additionally, the floodplains serve as fertile grounds for agriculture and act as natural flood management systems, mitigating the impact of high-water events.
Background
This thesis will use temporally dense Sentinel-1 SAR (and perhaps ALOS PALSAR L-band data) data available in Google Earth Engine to study the extend and temporal dynamics of meandering rivers in the Amazon Basin (or parts of it) over the past 10 years. Planet data is available for validation.
Software: Google Earth Engine, R/python, ArcGIS/QGIS
Objectives and Research questions
- Develop a method to map the extend and temporal dynamics of meandering rivers.
- Analyse the dynamics across the Amazon Basin (or parts of it)
Requirements
- Geo-scripting course (required)
- Advanced Earth Observation (required)
- GEE tutorials, such as (https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/tutorials/edu)
Literature and information
- Butler et al., 2019 https://worldrainforests.com/06-rainforest-rivers-lakes-swamps.html
- Maciel, et al 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad8a71
- Tsyganskaya et al, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10081286
- Ceos & GFOI, 2018
Theme(s): Sensing & measuring; Modelling & visualisation