Mapping flood events using remote sensing in an arid zoneriver, central Australia

Abstract

Rivers in arid and semi-arid zones are distinguished by high variations in flow patterns both in spatial and temporal scale. The variable flows, often ephemeral, have a strong impact on the local hydrological, ecological and landscape characteristics. In Australia, rivers in the arid zone are often ungauged and therefore little information is available for further hydrological and ecological analysis. An assessment of the water resources and ecological importance of these rivers requires the fundamental information on the occurrence and extent of flow events. Remote sensing technologies can be applied where ground field data are few, or completely absent, but have rarely been operationally a..