SWOT Mission Data Validation for Pantanal Hydrodynamic Analysis

• Grant number: 24/12997-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences
• Principal Investigator: Evlyn Márcia Leão de Moraes Novo
• Grantee: Jahdy Moreno Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pantanal, the planet's largest continuous wetland, is characterized by seasonal flood pulses that support its rich biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, extreme climate events of floods and droughts, intensified by projections of severe water deficits, threaten this unique biome. In this context, accurate monitoring of surface water level fluctuations and flooded area extents becomes crucial for its conservation. In situ monitoring, in its current form, presents limitations of coverage and accessibility, making remote sensing a powerful tool. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, recently launched with data and products that are still largely unexplored, is a pioneering effort designed to provide detailed data on water surface elevation and flood extent, with a specific focus on inland and continental waters. Therefore, this research project aims to explore the potential of the SWOT mission for analyzing Pantanal hydrodynamics, allowing the creation of a theoretical and practical knowledge base that supports the operational application of the SWOT mission to studies aimed at the recovery of the Pantanal Biome. By the end of this research, this study will provide a better understanding of how the SWOT mission data will provide updated information on the Pantanal following periods of environmental stress. This will involve generating time series of water levels and maps of flooded areas.