Wetland monitoring of flood-extent , inundation patterns and vegetation , Mekong River Basin , Southeast Asia , and Murray-Darling Basin , Australia

It is well documented that 24cm wavelength JERS-1 and ALOS PALSAR L-band radar data are well suited to map and monitor the structural assemblage of dense vegetation cover comprising shrublands and forests. In addition, the penetration capability of L-band enables accurate detection and mapping of flooding below forest canopy. In this on-going study, ALOSPALSAR and archival JERS-1 SAR imagery are used in conjunction with complementary datasets and field-data to develop a baseline inventory for showing the extent of flooding in the Lower-Mekong Basin in South East Asia and to analyse flood patterns in the Macquarie Marshes located in the MurrayDarling Basin in eastern Australia. These baselines will then be used to monitor subsequent seasonal changes in the extent and duration of flooding. Attention is also paid to mapping and monitoring changes in the status and condition of wetland vegetation types in these two river basins.