Temporal and spatial concentrations of suspended sediment in floodplains are difficult to quantify because in situ measurements can be logistically complex, time consuming and costly. In this research, satellite imagery with long temporal and large spatial coverage (Landsat TM/ETM+) was used to complement in situ suspended sediment measurements to reflect sediment dynamics in a large (70,000 km²) floodplain. Instead of using a single spectral band from Landsat, a Principal Component Analysis was applied to obtain uncorrelated reflectance values for five bands of Landsat TM/ETM+. Significant correlations between the scores of the 1st principal component and the values of continuously gauged suspended sediment concentration, shown via high coefficients of determination of sediment rating curves (R² ranging from 0.66 to 0.92), permit the application of satellite images to quantify spatial and temporal sediment variation in the Mekong floodplains. Estimated suspended sediment maps show that hydraulic regimes at Chaktomuk (Cambodia), where the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers diverge, determine the amount of seasonal sediment supplies to the Mekong Delta. The development of flood prevention systems to allow for three rice crops a year in the Vietnam Mekong Delta significantly reduces localized flooding, but also prevents sediment (source of nutrients) from entering fields. A direct consequence of this is the need to apply more artificial fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity, which may trigger environmental problems. Overall, remote sensing is shown to be an effective tool to understand temporal and spatial sediment dynamics in large floodplains.

洪泛区中悬浮沉积物的时间和空间浓度很难量化，因为原位测量可能在逻辑上很复杂，费时且昂贵。在这项研究中，具有较长时间和较大空间覆盖范围的卫星图像（Landsat TM / ETM +）用于补充原位悬浮泥沙测量，以反映大型（70,000 km ²）洪泛区的泥沙动力学。代替使用Landsat的单个光谱带，而是应用主成分分析来获得Landsat TM / ETM +五个带的不相关反射率值。第一主成分的分数与连续测量的悬浮沉积物浓度的值之间具有显着的相关性，通过确定泥沙等级曲线的高系数（R ²范围从0.66到0.92），允许应用卫星图像来量化湄公河漫滩中的时空沉积物变化。估计的悬浮沉积物图显示，湄公河，巴萨克河和洞里萨河的分流处Chaktomuk（柬埔寨）的水力状况决定了湄公河三角洲的季节性沉积物供应量。越南湄公河三角洲每年开发三种防洪作物的防洪系统的开发大大减少了局部洪灾，但也防止了沉积物（营养物质的来源）进入田间。其直接后果是需要使用更多的人造肥料以提高农业生产率，这可能会引发环境问题。全面的，