Seawater intrusion (SWI) is increasingly threatening coastal areas worldwide, and is exacerbated by changing weather patterns and raising sea levels induced by global warming. As a result, salinization is affecting low-lying agricultural regions with significant soil and crop damage. With 70% of the area constituted by cropland, the Po River Delta has faced severe SWI since the early 2000s, mainly driven by summer droughts reducing river flow and allowing landward movements of seawater. Despite partial hydrological studies, intensified droughts and high temperatures have highlighted the need for deeper insights into SWI's impact on cropland and its seasonal patterns. Utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite imagery (spatial resolution of 10 m and a satellite overpass of 5 days), this study compares Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) patterns in the Po River Delta (620 km2) during spring-summer 2022 and 2023. With multi-temporal remote sensing we aim to discern variations in salt stress between an exceptionally dry summer (2022) and rainy summer (2023), aligning with historical meteorological data. 24 and 29 NDVI maps per season (May to August in both years) were generated, with cropland classification using decision tree learning to filter bare soil and surface water from vegetation. Results, showing salinity effects on NDVI, provide a baseline to support the identification of the most vulnerable areas in the Delta cropland.

The Impact of Seawater Intrusion in the Summer Season: A Remote Sensing Assessment of Crop Greening in the Po River Delta (Italy)

Cucchiaro S.;
2025-01-01

Abstract

Seawater intrusion (SWI) is increasingly threatening coastal areas worldwide, and is exacerbated by changing weather patterns and raising sea levels induced by global warming. As a result, salinization is affecting low-lying agricultural regions with significant soil and crop damage. With 70% of the area constituted by cropland, the Po River Delta has faced severe SWI since the early 2000s, mainly driven by summer droughts reducing river flow and allowing landward movements of seawater. Despite partial hydrological studies, intensified droughts and high temperatures have highlighted the need for deeper insights into SWI's impact on cropland and its seasonal patterns. Utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite imagery (spatial resolution of 10 m and a satellite overpass of 5 days), this study compares Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) patterns in the Po River Delta (620 km2) during spring-summer 2022 and 2023. With multi-temporal remote sensing we aim to discern variations in salt stress between an exceptionally dry summer (2022) and rainy summer (2023), aligning with historical meteorological data. 24 and 29 NDVI maps per season (May to August in both years) were generated, with cropland classification using decision tree learning to filter bare soil and surface water from vegetation. Results, showing salinity effects on NDVI, provide a baseline to support the identification of the most vulnerable areas in the Delta cropland.
2025
9783031842115
9783031842122
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11390/1305333
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