Landsat shows expanded flooding in Thailand
NASA’s 9 October analysis compares the Bang Pakong River area in 2025 and 2026.
RockGeo Editorial · Published on
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Event date: 10/02/2026 · Source date: 10/09/2026
Sources accessed on 10/09/2026, 20:01 GMT
NASA Earth Observatory published a Landsat comparison of flooding in Thailand’s Prachin Buri province on 9 October 2026. The 2 October 2026 acquisition shows water over agricultural areas and aquaculture facilities near the Bang Pakong River. The earlier reference is from 7 October 2025, at the same time of year. Source: NASA Earth Observatory — analysis published on 9 October 2026.
The images use false colour to distinguish water, vegetation, developed land and other surfaces. In NASA’s presentation, water appears dark blue and vegetation bright green. Red shapes are floating solar arrays. These colours result from the observation composite and should not be read as the natural colours of every object. Source: NASA Earth Observatory — analysis published on 9 October 2026.
The release places the flooding within persistent rains from late September to early October. NASA says some flooding likely related to a low-pressure system that remained over the region for several days, supplied with moisture and energy from the Gulf of Thailand. The relationship is described as probable, without attributing all flooding to a single cause. Source: NASA Earth Observatory — analysis published on 9 October 2026.
Landsat sensors record different electromagnetic wavelength ranges. USGS documentation lists 30-metre resolution for Landsat 8 and 9 visible, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared bands; the panchromatic band has 15 metres. These values describe the original bands and do not guarantee identification of any object smaller than a pixel. Source: USGS — Landsat satellite bands and resolutions.
Geoscientific interpretation combines location, date and spectral response. As a methodological limitation, recognising water in an image composite does not directly measure its depth or speed. The comparison helps examine the spatial distribution of flooding, but interpretation must consider band resolution and the representation chosen to display the data. Source: USGS — Landsat satellite bands and resolutions.
The 9 October publication presents a 2 October observation, not a real-time map. The source provides both images and references for consultation. For international readers, the case shows how acquisitions from comparable seasons can document changes in river floodplains while preserving the distinction between visual evidence, interpretation and current conditions. Source: NASA Earth Observatory — analysis published on 9 October 2026.