Remote sensing of water in wetlands: Persistence and duration

Abstract

The extent, duration and recession pattem of water over a landscape are major determinates of vegetation response and growth and species composition. Optical data and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in particular, can be used to map vegetation response as well as separate perennial from non-perennial wetlands. Parameters including both the spectral and spatial resolution of remote sensing systems as well as the frequency of their data acquisition cycle all influence the capacity to detect and map phonological response.