Spatiotemporal-based automated inundation mapping of Ramsar wetlands of China using GEE

Abstract

Wetlands are one of the most critical components of an ecosystem. They support many ecological niches and rich diversity of flora and fauna. The availability of adequate food and water makes them the best place as a home for diverse forms of species. They provide essential ecosystem services like improvement of water quality, reduction of floods, and carbon sequestration. The most significant factor affecting this balance is the inundation extent of these wetlands. Wetlands are among the most fragile ecosystems, vulnerable to climate change and human disturbances, and have experienced striking loss and degradation worldwide. The ecological significance of these sites makes it imperative to study the changes in the inundation extent and thus propose necessary measures for their management and conservation. Some of these sites attract different species of birds and animals that are near extinction. Due to the above reasons, some of these sites have gained international importance. These sites are included in the Ramsar's list of wetlands from time to time. This study analyzes all 64 Ramsar sites in China based on their inundation pattern over the last three decades.