Multi-Temporal Surface Water Classification for Four Major Rivers from the Peruvian Amazon

We describe a new minimum extent, persistent surface water classification for reaches of four major rivers in the Peruvian Amazon (i.e., Amazon, Napo, Pastaza, Ucayali). These data were generated by Rural Livelihoods and Poverty (PARLAP) Project which aims to better understand nexus between livelihoods (e.g., fishing, agriculture, forest use, trade), poverty, conservation over 35,000 km river network. Previous datasets do not adequately capture temporal changes course rivers, nor discriminate primary main channel non-main oxbow lakes) water. classifications Google Earth Engine from Landsat TM 5, 7 ETM+, 8 OLI satellite imagery time periods circa 1989, 2000, 2015 using hierarchical logical binary predominantly based on modified Normalized Difference Water Index (mNDWI) shortwave infrared reflectance. included reflectance blue band brightness temperature minimize misclassification. High accuracies achieved all (>90%).