Time series flood mapping using the Copernicus dataset in Google Earth Engine of the Mountainous Region

In mountainous countries like Nepal, floods are a major challenge due to complex topography, intense snowmelt, and highly variable monsoon rainfall that drive frequent flooding events. This study focuses on the Hilly and Himalayan regions of Nepal, where flood monitoring and risk management are increasingly important for safeguarding vulnerable communities and infrastructure.

 

This study presents a high-resolution, time-series flood extent dataset derived from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 Level-2A imagery at a 10-meter spatial resolution, covering the years 2019 to 2023. Flood mapping was performed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) combined with region-specific thresholding. NDVI values below 0 represent open water, while values between 0 and 0.1 often indicate mud, bare soil. A threshold of NDVI <0.019 was applied to identify flood-affected areas in the hilly region to capture the debris flow type flood, whereas NDVI <0 was used for the Himalayan region, because of the presence of snow and water that complicated classification due to their spectral similarity with other features. Snow-covered areas were masked using the Copernicus Global Land Cover dataset to improve accuracy in the high altitude zones.

 

Data processing was performed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Monsoon-season image composites were generated after applying cloud masking using the Scene Classification Layer (SCL), and temporal cloud gaps were filled using post-monsoon imagery to ensure continuous temporal data. The resulting flood extent maps reveal consistent spatial patterns and provide critical data for flood forecasting, risk-sensitive land use planning, and interdisciplinary studies. Despite challenges with cloud interference and complex terrain, this dataset offers valuable insights into flood dynamics across Nepal’s mountainous landscape.