Satellite-based Analysis of River Morphology and Riparian Vegetation Changes: Insights from the Vistula River Case Study

Rivers continually alter their planform due to natural processes and human activities, affecting their morphology and the enclosing ecosystems.Understanding these changes is crucial for managing water resources, floods, and conservation efforts.In this study, we use satellite-derived indices, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), and Automated Water Extraction Index (AWEI), to assess sediment deposition, erosion, sinuosity variations, and riparian vegetation shifts over a 40-year period .Using Google Earth Engine, we analyze river morphology and vegetation changes, providing insights into environmental and anthropogenic influences on the Vistula River and its sub-reaches.This watercourse was selected for its historical significance and susceptibility to urban pressures, and to test the approach proposed here.Preliminary results reveal key trends in river morphology and vegetation dynamics, emphasizing the importance of remote sensing in large-scale river monitoring.This research contributes to broader efforts to understand climate-driven changes in river planforms, with future studies aiming to improve accuracy through higher-resolution data and field validation.