A dynamic surface water extent service for Africa developed through continental-scale collaboration

• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1251315
• Publication Date: 2024-08-26T05:06:08Z
• Authors: Meghan Halabisky; Fang Yuan; Ghislain Adimou; Eloise Birchall; Edward Boamah; Chad Burton; Ee-Faye Chong; Lisa Hall; Cedric Jorand; Alex Leith; Adam Lewis; Bako Mamane; Fatou Mar; Negin Moghaddam; David Ongo; Lisa-Maria Rebelo
• Keywords: waterbodies; co-production; Environmental sciences; 0211 other engineering and technologies; surface water; GE1-350; 02 engineering and technology; water security; Landsat; wetlands

Spatially explicit, near real time information on surface water dynamics is critical for understanding changes in resources, and long-term security planning. The distribution of across the African continent since 1984 updated as every new Landsat scene becomes available presented here, validated first time. We applied Water Observations from Space (WOfS) algorithm, developed well-tested Australia, to acquired over Africa mid 1980s provide spatial past 30+ years. assessed accuracy WOfS using aerial satellite imagery. Four regional geospatial organisations, coordinated through Digital Earth Product Development Task Team, conducted validation campaign provided both expertise experience required a continental-scale effort. whether point was wet, dry, or cloud covered, each 12 months 2018, resulting 34,800 labelled observations. As waterbodies larger than 100 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m1"><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">k</mml:mi><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">m</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:math> are easy identify with resolution data can thus boost accuracy, these were masked out. overall classification 82%. expected be used by ministries departments agriculture continent, international academia, private sector. A large-scale collaborative effort, which included technical skills spanning two continents create service that regionally accurate hosted on, implemented operationally from, continent.