The use of satellite images for limnological research in Poland

Abstract Satellite data play a crucial role in understanding and monitoring numerous environmental processes, and their increasing accessibility has led to their use in various scientific disciplines, particularly those related to the hydrosphere. This includes the hydrosphere, with a wide range of applications related to lakes. In Poland, where there are several thousand lakes, they have become a subject of significant interest. The aim of this article is to review the current state of lake research in Poland using satellite data. The results indicate that data from the Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite families have been most commonly used in research. The satellite-based research has covered a range of topics, including lake evolution and morphometry, water quality, water temperature, biodiversity, ice phenomena, and water levels. To broaden the use of satellite data in the future, it will be necessary to coordinate in situ studies, such as hydrological monitoring (water levels and temperature) and environmental monitoring (water quality and ecological status), with satellite overpasses. Considering the rapid development of satellite technology, this methodology is expected to gain importance, expanding the scope of knowledge into previously inaccessible areas.