Remote sensing-based assessment of dam impacts on hydrology, geomorphology, ecosystems, and society – a review

The consequences of dams show the complex impacts of human activities on the environment. While they provide benefits, dams also negatively affect hydrological systems, which in turn influence geomorphology, ecosystems, and society. Remote sensing offers unique spatiotemporal insights, filling gaps in understanding of the environmental consequences of dams by covering areas without in-situ measurements and providing data that conventional approaches cannot capture. As a result, remote sensing has been widely employed to disentangle the complexity in the consequences of dams. This study reviewed 73 relevant research papers to characterize the remote sensing approach in quantifying spatiotemporal environmental consequences of dams, focusing on hydrology, geomorphology, ecosystems, and society. The review examined the consequences of dams as measured by remote sensing data, the methods employed, and the techniques used to separate dam-related impacts from climatic influences. Based on this review, we discussed the limitations of current remote sensing-based dam studies and proposed future research agendas aimed at better understanding the effects of dams on hydrology, geomorphology, ecosystems, and society.