Analysis of errors in estimating changes in water body areas by satellite data: Case study of thermokarst lakes in Yamal Peninsula

Abstract

Errors in the estimates of changes in the area of individual water bodies and their groups have been studied in the central part of Yamal Peninsula based on Landsat satellite imagery. For the first time, the overlap zone of two satellite images along satellite trajectory has been proposed for the choice of the most efficient algorithm for identifying water surfaces and estimating the errors in water body area measurements. Empirical equations have been derived to describe the relationship between the error in estimates of changes in the areas of individual water bodies and their groups and the areas themselves. The seasonal and many-year variations in water body areas have been identified in the zone of intense construction of facilities at the Bovanenkovskoe oil-gas condensate field.