Tracking water level changes of the Amazon Basin with space-borne remote sensing and integration with large scale hydrodynamic modelling: A review

With the improvement of remote sensing systems, in particular active sensors, our ability to make regular observations of the Amazon Basin has greatly increased. Water levels and other related features such as discharge, floodplain–river connectivity, and flood extent are now being monitored using space-borne sensors, thereby complimenting in situ gauging networks. This review concludes that the main advances remote sensing has had on our knowledge of hydrology includes the ability observe the seasonal cycles of the Amazon River across the entire basin, including the movement of the flood wave downstream. Flood extent can now be mapped, including the direction of floodplain flow, thanks to the extensive coverage provided by various active remote sensing systems. Our knowledge of the relationship between water levels in the main channel and the floodplain has been reassessed. It is now known that floodplain levels are related to the distance of the location from the main channel. The addition of new and future satellites, such as ICESat-1 and -2, GRACE and SWOT, will guarantee the continuation of research in this field and the continued advancement of knowledge and understanding of the Amazon Basin.