Utilization of remote sensing in the ecology of large river valleys

Summary

Two examples are given in order to illustrate how far Remote Sensing technology can be integrated into large river ecological studies. The first one concerns the over-populated deltaïc complex of the Ganges, in Bangladesh where annual floods have dramatic consequences. The second one has been selected along the Garonne River, in Southern France, where inventories and mapping of riparian forests are difficult because of their small size and excessive fragmentation. The multitemporal analysis of data provided by high resolution satellites (Spot and Landsat TM) is an appropriate tool for the monitoring of natural resources and floods along large rivers. One of the main interest of Spot satellite is a high potentiality in data acquisition.