Global maps derived from all Landsat 5, 7, and 8 scenes 1999-2021 highlight the changes in surface water extent during this period, and a probability sample-based assessment provides unbiased estimators of the area of permanent water, seasonal water, water loss, water gain, temporary land, temporary water, and high-frequency change 1999-2018.
Highlights include:
- First sample-based global estimates of open surface water extent and change.
- 40% of the area with surface water detected between 1999 and 2018 was not permanent.
- Area of multiple water/land transitions far exceeds (>4x) area of unidirectional loss or gain of water.
- Maps highlight 7 types of 1999–2020 global surface water stable and change dynamics.
- 10.9% of global inland surface water is within mixed pixels at Landsat resolution.
Data Links:
Download Individual Month Maps
Maps are in 10x10° tiles and the following layers are available for download:
- R-G-B interannual dynamics maps
- interannual stable and change classes
- monthly mean water percent
- annual water percent
- individual month water percent
Maps have a no-data value of 255. The legend for the stable and change classes is:
Reference data:
Time-series reference data [Download shapefile of locations here]
