@article{fdi:010071237,
  title = {{M}apping spatio-temporal water level variations over the central {C}ongo {R}iver using {PALSAR} {S}can{SAR} and {E}nvisat altimetry data},
  author = {{K}im, {D}. and {L}ee, {H}. and {L}araque, {A}lain and {T}shimanga, {R}. {M}. and {Y}uan, {T}. and {J}ung, {H}. {C}. and {B}eighleyg, {E}. and {C}hang, {C}. {H}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}revious studies using synthetic aperture radar ({SAR}) backscattering coefficients have been used to distinguish vegetation types, to monitor flood conditions, and to assess soil moisture variations over the wetlands. {H}ere, we attempted to estimate spatio-temporal water level variations over the central {C}ongo mainstem covered with aquatic plants using the backscattering coefficients from the {A}dvanced {L}and {O}bserving {S}atellite ({ALOS}) {P}hased {A}rray type {L}-band {S}ynthetic {A}perture {R}adar ({PALSAR}) {S}canning {SAR} ({S}can{SAR}) images and water levels from {E}nvisat altimetry data. {F}irst, permanent open water, forest, macrophytes, and herbaceous plants have been classified over the central {C}ongo {B}asin based on statistics of the backscattering coefficient values. {S}econd, we generated multi-temporal water level maps over part of the {C}ongo mainstem based on the relationship between {E}nvisat altimetry-derived river-level changes and {PALSAR} {S}can{SAR} backscattering coefficient variations. {F}inally, the water level maps were validated with {I}ce, {C}loud and land {E}levation {S}atellite ({ICES}at) altimetry-derived water levels. {W}e obtained overall root mean square difference ({RMSD}) of 67.27 cm at 100-m scale resolution of {PALSAR} {S}can{SAR}. {O}ur study shows that we can obtain reasonable estimates of water levels of the rivers covered with seasonally floating or emergent macrophytes from backscattering coefficients. {F}urthermore, it is expected that the generated water level maps can be used as a 'true' data set to perform prelaunch study of the {S}urface {W}ater {O}cean {T}opography ({SWOT}) mission to be launched in 2021.},
  keywords = {{CONGO} ; {CONGO} {COURS} {D}'{EAU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {R}emote {S}ensing},
  volume = {38},
  numero = {23},
  pages = {7021--7040},
  ISSN = {0143-1161},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1080/01431161.2017.1371867},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071237},
}