Potential of SWOT for Monitoring Water Volumes in Sahelian Ponds and Lakes

Small water bodies play a pivotal role in the Sahel since they provide a critical water resource to livestock and people and they also offer important ecosystems services. Monitoring, modelling and better understanding the hydrological behaviour of this small water bodies is therefore a key issue. The SWOT mission will bring a resolution and spatial coverage breakthrough allowing monitoring water level and volume in small water bodies worldwide. This study assesses the potential of SWOT for monitoring water volumes in Sahelian ponds and lakes. This is done by analysing synthetic data produced using the SWOT HR simulator developed by NASA-JPL. In addition, data from the Global Precipitation Mission have been also employed to investigate the backscatter coefficient variability over land and water in the Sahel. Overall, the first application of SWOT _ HR simulator over the Sahel has shown the good potential of SWOT for monitoring the seasonal variability of water levels in this region.