Conference Agenda

Satellite monitoring of inland water bodies is an essential tool for assessing water quality, including the detection of water pollution, eutrophication and algal blooms. The success and accuracy of satellite measurements are highly dependent on rigorous calibration and validation (Cal/Val) processes using in situ reference data. The UFSAT-1 educational mission proposes to bring this monitoring capability to a more accessible scale, including a multispectral camera (Arrok) aimed at detecting algal blooms in coastal and inland waters. Validation of data from new sensors, especially those with specific spectral and spatial characteristics requires efficient methodologies. In this regard, previous studies have performed extensive Cal/Val work for hyperspectral sensors (PRISMA) over various water bodies, including Italian lakes such as Lake Garda and Lake Trasimeno, using validated in situ measurements. These lakes present varied optical characteristics and trophic states different from the eutrophic to hypereutrophic state of Lake San Roque, Argentina, which makes them valuable test sites to evaluate the potential of remote sensing in different aquatic environments.

Based on the importance of Cal/Val and the availability of validated datasets over Garda lake, this work proposes to evaluate the capability of the Arrok camera for water quality monitoring using a simulation approach and analysis of existing data. Validated PRISMA reference hyperspectral data will be used to simulate the spectral response that the UFSAT-1 multispectral camera bands would record over these water bodies. By analyzing how the UFSAT-1 bands would capture the characteristic spectral signatures of water quality indicators (such as Chlorophyll-a, Total Suspended Solids) in the various trophic and optical states present in Garda, we seek to validate the proposed monitoring methodology for UFSAT-1 and characterize its operational capabilities. This approach allows to evaluate the Arrok camera in aquatic environments with properties different from its initial area of focus (San Roque lake), taking advantage of robust validation frameworks and reference data collected in previous studies on this Italian lake. The results will contribute to optimize processing algorithms for UFSAT-1 data and guide its future applications in global water quality monitoring.

Anthropogenic changes such as deforestation and agricultural expansion are changing Earth's ecosystems, especially in vulnerable regions like the Brazilian Pantanal. Recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and a wetland of international importance, the Pantanal faces critical environmental pressures. In this context, this research analysing spatiotemporal land use dynamics using geospatial technologies in the Brazilian Pantanal. Were employed the Land Cover Indicator, representing physical phenomena associated with land use characteristics. Our land use and land cover data were sourced from MapBiomas, utilizing a two-year dataset (2022-2024) to conduct a spatiotemporal analysis of land use dynamics. The results showed a decrease in water bodies, mainly in the central-southern region of the study area. Additionally, the results highlight a transition from forests to pastures, resulting in an average increase of 2.22% in the land cover indicator over the period. Wetlands and water bodies showed a combined decrease of 10.27%. It is crucial to understand these relationships through spatial analysis to develop effective environmental conservation strategies and maintain sustainable management of this globally important wetland.

The Pantanal is a biome formed by floodplains that are highly complex for mapping. With the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission designed to monitor water surfaces through two-dimensional images, this satellite has great potential for mapping the Pantanal. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the capability of SWOT to map floodable areas, focusing on the Pantanal Mato Grosso National Park. To this end, the flooded areas of this region were surveyed spatially and temporally using different satellites: SWOT, Sentinel-1 (radar) and Sentinel-2 (optical), to analyze and compare the data obtained by the SWOT mission with those from other missions.

Abstract—This study presents an integrated hydrological assessment of the contributing basin to the city of Asunción, corresponding to the Middle and Lower Paraguay Basin, using satellite products and in situ measurements during the 2003–2022 period. The main variables analyzed include precipitation (IMERG), evapotranspiration (ET), groundwater storage (GWS), and streamflow at the Asunción station (control point). The results highlight the hydrological dynamics and the basin’s sensitivity to interannual climate variability. Evapotranspiration remained relatively stable, while GWS exhibited high variability, reflecting seasonal recharge and depletion patterns. Precipitation showed strong seasonality, consistent with the basin’s climatic regime. The analysis of monthly mean streamflow from 1931 to 2021 revealed extreme hydrological events—both floods and droughts—correlated with ENSO phases. Notably, 2015 and 2016 were identified as persistently wet years, whereas 2020 and 2021 marked widespread hydrological stress across all variables. Standardized anomaly analyses revealed synchronicity between surface and subsurface hydrological components. The calculation of the water balance and GWS anomalies allowed for spatial identification of vulnerable zones. A classification scheme based on the Standardized Groundwater Index (SGI) was applied to map dry (SGI < -1), intermediate (-1 ≤ SGI ≤ 1), and wet (SGI > 1) zones. Cross-correlation analysis between the residual water balance (P – ET – Q) and ΔGWS indicated that groundwater storage responds with a one-month lag relative to surface hydrological fluxes. This finding highlights the buffering capacity of the subsurface and supports the use of GRACE data as an indicator of integrated hydrological response. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for continuous groundwater monitoring and streamflow control of river tributaries, as well as their interaction with climate-driven surface water processes in the region.