Breakthrough in monitoring of rivers from space
A team of researchers from the Institute of Geography and Regional Development (University of Wrocław) and the Technical University of Munich has published pioneering results in the Journal of Hydrology, using data from the new SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite mission. The developed method, Reach-Reg, makes it possible to track river water levels almost anywhere in the world, even in areas without overground measurement stations. The study was conducted during dr Michał Halicki’s postdoctoral fellowship, funded by the NAWA Bekker programme.
Satellites provide a vast amount of data on surface waters, however, they fly over a given area only every few to several days. The Reach-Reg method effectively fills this gap. It enables:
- precise processing of SWOT satellite data and integration with other altimetry missions,
- generation of daily time series of water levels at nearly any point along a river,
- monitoring of rivers in regions without gauging stations, which is crucial for global hydrology.
One outcome of the research is an animation showing the passage of a flood wave along the Middle Oder River in 2024 (from the vicinity of Ścinawa to Cedynia). The data allows for visualization of:
- the river’s longitudinal profile (the current shape of the water surface),
- water level anomalies illustrating the movement of the flood peak,
- changes in water level over time at a selected river location.
“Thanks to this method, we can observe the pulse of almost any river in the world, which helps us better understand its behavior and manage it more effectively,” emphasizes dr Michał Halicki.
During the research on the article, dr Halicki created a compelling animation illustrating how the 2024 flood wave moved through the Middle Oder. The entire animation is based solely on satellite data processed using his original method.
The author notes that the method works best in sections where rivers flow freely. In areas where water levels are artificially regulated, the algorithms cannot fully reconstruct natural flow dynamics. This is why the study of the Middle Oder, free of such barriers, allowed for exceptionally accurate results.
Thanks to dense sampling (every 10 km) and the unique observation geometry of the SWOT, the Reach-Reg method opens up new possibilities for hydrological research both in Poland and worldwide, especially in regions lacking traditional monitoring systems.
The full article is available here.
Translated by Julia Szołtysik (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
Date of publication: 26.03.2026
Added by: EJK
