The dynamics of floods in the Bolivian Amazon Basin

Abstract

AbstractIn 1997, a study was initiated by IRD, Bolivia to analyse the dynamics of floods in the Bolivian Amazon, which commonly affect an area of 100 000 to 150 000 km2 for about 4 months of the year. This region is characterized by vast isolated areas with difficult access and is continuously covered by clouds in the wet season. For these reasons, this hydrological study depends heavily on the use of remote sensing, and particularly radar data, for flood monitoring and the identification of areas at risk of inundation. This article presents preliminary results obtained in the Trinidad area, around the Mamoré River, using LANDSAT, ERS and RADARSAT radar data from dry, wet and flood seasons (collected between 1996 and 1998), and water level and, hydrometeorological data obtained from the upper and lower parts of the Mamoré basin. After characterizing the annual flood cycle within the study area, a TM colour composite (to map the vegetation) and a radar colour composite (multi‐temporal), are used to evaluate the potential contribution of microwave data (RADARSAT and ERS) for mapping the extent of flooding at both the regional (all the flood plain) and the local scale (around the city of Trinidad). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.