Advances and Challenges in Satellite-Based Surface Water Monitoring

Speaker: Shagun Garg
Series: Institute of Computing for Climate Science (ICCS) Seminars

Water is essential for ecosystems, human livelihoods, and the functioning of our planet. Satellites have transformed the way we observe water resources and monitor hazards such as flooding. However, many challenges remain in accurately mapping and monitoring surface water, particularly the millions of small lakes and ponds that are often overlooked by existing global datasets.

In this talk, I will discuss some of these challenges, drawing on my research on flood mapping in arid regions and detecting small water bodies across diverse landscapes. I will explore how advances in optical and radar satellite observations, machine learning and emerging geospatial foundation models can help address these gaps. I will also highlight the challenges of developing approaches that work reliably across different geographical regions and environmental conditions.

Join on Zoom or in-person at MR2, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Rd, Cambridge CB3 0WA