Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Time Series Breakpoint Detection as Part of the South African Land Degradation Monitor (SALDi)

The project “South African Land Degradation Monitor” (SALDi) contributes to the German-South African Programme “Science Partnerships for the Adaptation to Complex Earth System Processes in the Region of Southern Africa” (SPACES) by addressing the dynamics and functioning of multi-use landscapes with respect to land use, land cover change, water fluxes, and implications for habitats and ecosystem services. We are utilizing time series information from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 of the European Space Agency (ESA) Copernicus program. The synergetic combination of both satellites hold large potential as both systems measure different properties of the earth's surface. This study analyses the feasibility of detecting breakpoints and land surface changes over time within the six SALDi study sites. The overarching aim is to link the findings of the time series analysis to different land degradation phenomena.