Human Alterations of the Global Floodplains: 1992 to 2019 (version 1)

Here we present the first-available global dataset that quantifies human alterations in 15 million sq km floodplains along the world’s 520 major river basins. We developed these data using a comprehensive 27-year (1992-2019) analysis of remotely sensed land use change at 250-m resolution. This new dataset reveals that the world has lost ~600,000 sq km floodplains in 27 years (1992-2019), moving from natural forest, grassland, and wetland conditions to 460,000 sq km of new agricultural and 140,000 sq km of new developed areas.

To ensure the maximum reuse of this dataset, we also developed three web-based semi-automatic programming tools partly supported with data-driven tutorials and step-by-step audiovisual instructions.

(1) Floodplain Mapping Tool
- Web-based Python code that runs in any internet browser using Google's high performance computing resource: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1xQlARZXKPexmDInYV-EMoJ-HZxmFL-eW?usp=sharing
- A tutorial developed and published through an online data-driven geoscience education platform: https://serc.carleton.edu/hydromodules/steps/246320.html
- A YouTube video with step-by-step instructions: https://youtu.be/TgMbkJdALig

(2) Land Use Change Tool
- Web-based Python code that runs in any internet browser using Google's high performance computing resource: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1vmIaUCkL66CoTv4rNRIWpJXYXp4TlAKd?usp=sharing
- A tutorial developed and published through an online data-driven geoscience education platform: https://serc.carleton.edu/hydromodules/steps/241489.html
- A YouTube video with step-by-step instructions: https://youtu.be/wH0gif_y15A

(3) Human Alteration Tool
- Web-based Python code that runs in any internet browser using Google's high performance computing resource: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1r2zNJNpd3aWSuDV2Kc792qSEjvDbFtBy?usp=sharing

Note, the floodplain dataset used in this analysis (GFPLAIN250m; Nardi et al., 2019) does not cover deserts and ice-covered regions. Hence, places like northern Africa, Persian Gulf, Tibetan plateau, and the region above 60 degrees north latitude are not included in this analysis.

This global floodplain alteration dataset is built off our recent work published in the Nature Scientific Data: Rajib et al. (2021). The changing face of floodplains in the Mississippi River Basin detected by a 60-year land use change dataset. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-01048-w