dataset · Global
JRC Yearly Water Classification History, v1.4
This dataset contains maps of the location and temporal distribution of surface water from 1984 to 2021 and provides statistics on the extent and change of those water surfaces. For more information see the associated journal article: [High-resolution mapping of global surface water and its long-term changes](https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v540/n7633/full/nature20584.html) (Nature, 2016) and the online [Data Users Guide](https://storage.googleapis.com/global-surface-water/downloads_ancill
Visit source ↗Source details
Licence: proprietary
Evidence quality: 35.6
Listed in gee public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- surface water location and temporal distribution, 1984-2021 · year-by-year water seasonality classification (waterClass band: no data, not water, seasonal water, permanent water) · statistics on the extent and change of surface water
- Coverage llm-inferred
- Global (catalogue bounds approx. 59°S to 78°N, 180°W to 180°E) · 1984-03-16 to 2022-01-01 (described as 1984-2021)
- Resolution docs-verified
- 30 m spatial; annual temporal
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Annual (cadence 1 Year); series ends with 2021 data
- Formats docs-verified
- Google Earth Engine ImageCollection
- Access docs-verified
- Free of charge under the Copernicus Programme, without restriction of use, via Google Earth Engine (Earth Engine registration required; platform free for research, education and nonprofit use); attribution required ('Source: EC JRC/Google')
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Flood risk desk study: identify permanent versus seasonal water bodies near a site from the 1984-2021 Landsat record · Biodiversity Net Gain baseline: map permanent water extent as a reference for aquatic and wetland habitat · Hydrology baseline: quantify long-term surface water change in a catchment for context in a technical report
- Audience llm-inferred
- flood consultants · hydrologists · ecologists · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Data ends in 2021 (availability to 2022-01-01), so it does not show current surface water · Requires Google Earth Engine access; the platform is free for research, education and nonprofit use, so commercial consultancy use may need other terms · Catalogue licence field says 'proprietary', which conflicts with the docs' statement of free use without restriction; verify before relying on it · Attribution and citation of the dataset and the Pekel et al. (2016) Nature article are required · 30 m Landsat-derived classification may miss very small or narrow water features (llm-inferred from resolution) · Not an MCP server or tool; no programmatic tools listed in catalogue
Evidence
- ee.ImageCollection('JRC/GSW1_4/YearlyHistory')
- https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/JRC_GSW1_4_YearlyHistory
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.