Leveraging Google Earth Engine platform to characterize and map small seasonal wetlands in the semi-arid environments of South Africa

Small seasonal wetlands are a distinctive feature of the semi-arid environments. Although these systems are small and ephemeral in nature, they provide habitats to aquatic flora and fauna, and play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods through the provision of ecological services. There is a great concern that these wetlands are not routinely monitored, which has contributed to their poor management. So far, scientific research strides have been noted in mapping and understanding the spatial coverage and ecohydrological dynamics of wetlands in semi-arid areas using broadband multispectral data. However, because of the sensing characteristics of these platforms, mapping and monitoring of small wetlands remains a challenge.