The Global Water Body Layer from TanDEM-X Interferometric SAR Data

The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data set, acquired by the TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) mission (TDM), represents a unique source to derive geo-information products at global scale. complete Earth’s landmasses have been surveyed least twice during bistatic operation, which started end of 2010. Examples delivered are digital elevation model (DEM) (at final independent posting 12 m × m) or Forest/Non-Forest (FNF) map. need reliable water product from was dictated limited accuracy and difficulty use TDX Water Indication Mask (WAM), as by-product DEM, jeopardizes its scientific applications, well. Similarly it has done generation FNF map; in this work, we utilize set quicklook images 50 resolution, between 2011 2016, new body layer (WBL), covering range ?60? +90? latitudes. coherence is used primary input feature performing detection. We classify surfaces single images, considering system’s geometric configuration exploiting watershed-based segmentation algorithm. Subsequently, overlapping acquisitions mosaicked together two-step logically weighting process TDM WBL product, comprises binary averaged water/non-water well permanent/temporary indication layer. assessed over Europe, through comparison with Copernicus wetness layer, provided European Space Agency (ESA), 20 resolution. F-score ranges 83%, when all geocells (of 1? latitudes longitudes) up 93%, only content higher than 1%. At scale, quality evaluated, intercomparison, other existing maps, resulting an overall agreement that often exceeds 85% (F-score) geocell presented study will be made available community free download usage.