Sentinel-1 data reveals unprecedented reduction of open water extent due to 2023-2024 drought in the central Amazon basin

Daniel A Maciel; Fellipe Lousada; Alice Fassoni-Andrade; Renata Pacheco Quevedo; Claudio Clemente Faria Barbosa; Marie Paule-Bonnet; Evlyn Márcia Leão de Moraes Novo

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ad8a71

Environmental Research Letters (Jan 2024)

Sentinel-1 data reveals unprecedented reduction of open water extent due to 2023-2024 drought in the central Amazon basin

Daniel A Maciel,
Fellipe Lousada,
Alice Fassoni-Andrade,
Renata Pacheco Quevedo,
Claudio Clemente Faria Barbosa,
Marie Paule-Bonnet,
Evlyn Márcia Leão de Moraes Novo

Affiliations

Daniel A Maciel: ORCiD; Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Systems (LabISA), Earth Observation Coordination of National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
Fellipe Lousada: Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Systems (LabISA), Earth Observation Coordination of National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC)—Francisco Antonio Maciel s/n esq. Luis Morquio , Durazno, Uruguay
Alice Fassoni-Andrade: ORCiD; Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de Brasília , Brasília, Brazil
Renata Pacheco Quevedo: ORCiD; Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo , Avenida Prof. Luciano Gualberto, Travessa do Politécnico 380, São Paulo, 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil; Georisk and Environment Group, Geology Department, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium
Claudio Clemente Faria Barbosa: ORCiD; Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Systems (LabISA), Earth Observation Coordination of National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
Marie Paule-Bonnet: ORCiD; ESPACE-DEV, Univ Montpellier, IRD, Univ Antilles , Univ Guyane, Univ Réunion, 34093 Montpellier, France
Evlyn Márcia Leão de Moraes Novo: ORCiD; Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; Instrumentation Laboratory for Aquatic Systems (LabISA), Earth Observation Coordination of National Institute for Space Research (INPE) , São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad8a71
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 12
p. 124034

Abstract

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In 2023, an intense drought impacted the Amazon basin triggered by climate change and a strong El Niño event, with the Negro River reaching its lowest water level in 120 years. However, the spatiotemporal open water extent (OWE) during this drought remains unclear. This study comprehensively evaluates OWE variability in the central Amazon using Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data since 2017. Monthly OWE masks were generated through an empirical threshold classification with accuracy >95%. Overall, the central Amazon experienced a reduction of ∼8% in OWE in the 2023 dry season months (November and December) when compared to monthly-average. However, reductions of up to 80% in OWE were observed in several specific lakes. Our analysis underscores the unprecedented severity of the 2023/2024 drought on rivers and floodplains. Utilizing SAR remote sensing technologies, this study emphasizes the urgent need for proactive conservation measures to safeguard the Amazon’s ecological integrity amid escalating environmental challenges. Monthly water masks from January/2017 to September/2024 are available here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12751783 .

Published in Environmental Research Letters

ISSN: 1748-9326 (Online)
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences; Science: Physics
Website: https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326

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