Application of Remote Sensing and the GIS in Interpretation of River Geomorphic Response to Floods

Floods modify channel landforms and affect processes taking place in the riparian zone. Extreme events increase the energy of streams, which manifest themselves by distinct geomorphological effects and increased erosion/accumulation processes in the channel. Historical maps and remote sensing data are the basic source of the spatial information in river research. Aerial photos and satellite images orthorectified in specialized software capture high-resolution details of the changing fluvial landscape. Milton et al. and Gilvear et al. point to the benefits of images from remote sensing for research of hydromorphological properties and channel changes. The greatest advantage though is their temporal and spatial flexibility in mapping of changes. In a systemic view, a stream can be divided into various biophysical components, including the channel and floodplain landforms. One of the key factors affecting the behaviour of a river channel is extreme discharge, which increases the energy of the stream.