Surface Water Transitions 1984-2022: A Global Dataset at Annual Resolution

This dataset provides a comprehensive global analysis of surface water dynamics, mapping areas where water has advanced or receded and capturing the timing of these transitions at annual resolution. Using Landsat time series data from 1984 to 2022, this dataset tracks long-term changes in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies, offering critical insights into hydrological shifts driven by natural and anthropogenic factors. The dataset is structured to include: Water Transition Data – Raster files indicating areas of water advance and recession, along with the year in which these changes occurred. Statistical Summary (GeoJSON) – A spatial file containing aggregated statistics, including the magnitude and direction of water transitions for specific regions or water bodies. Code (TXT) – The Google Earth Engine (GEE) Javascript used to process Landsat imagery and generate the dataset. This dataset is intended for use by researchers, policymakers, water resource managers, and conservationists seeking to understand water dynamics on a global scale. It can support studies on river meandering, wetland monitoring, floodplain dynamics, and the impacts of climate change on surface water distribution. The Water Transition image consists of two bands: Band 1 (b1) represents water advance, while Band 2 (b2) represents water recession.