Detection of Flooded Areas in Golestan Province Using VV, VH and VV + VH Polarizations of Sentile-1 and Landsat-8 Images

Undoubtedly, one of the most destructive natural hazards is floods. Detection of flooded areas for optimal control and management of future floods can be helpful. In this study, using Sentinel-1 and Landsat-8 images to identify flooded areas and determine the sensitivity of different polarizations of VV, VH and VV + VH in separating aqueous and non-aqueous regions in flood 2019 in Golestan province. Therefore, after performing the necessary pre-processing, unsupervised K-means classification and NDWI index were applied to the radar and Landsat images, respectively, and then flooded areas was calculated. Continuous and unprecedented rains, the overflow of the dam, and the clay soil of the region are the most important causes of flooding in this region. According to the digital elevation model (DEM) of the region, the lowlands of the catchment area are known to be the main focus of flood accumulation in the region. Preparation of flood vulnerability map, establishment of flood warning system in reservoirs, dams and downstream rivers is one of the recommended measures to control and deal with floods in the future.