Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Inundation Exposure and Soil Heat Stress in Paddy Fields Using Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing in the MADA Region
Maizatuldura Mohd Isa1, Hana Mohamad Jamil1, Mohd Arif Shahdan Azmi1, Mckreddy Yaban1, Nurul Suliana Ahmad Hazmi1 And Mohd Shahrizal Bin Mohd Noor2

1 Maizatuldura Mohd Isa: Research Officer, Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), Malaysia
2 Mohd Shahrizal Bin Mohd Noor: Head of Research and Statistics Branch,
Muda Agricultural Development Authority, Malaysia

Abstract

Paddy cultivation in Malaysia MADA granary area is increasingly threatened by climate induced extremes such as flash floods and elevated soil temperatures. To address these challenges, the Malaysian Space Agency, MYSA and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority, MADA collaborated on a study to assess the spatial and temporal impacts of inundation and soil heat stress on rice production using integrated multi-sensor satellite remote sensing. Inundation patterns were mapped using Sentinel1 Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR imagery during key crop growth stages. Land Surface Temperature, LST data from Landsat8 and Sentinel-3 were employed to monitor thermal stress throughout the planting season. Vegetation dynamics and stress responses were analyzed using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI profiles derived from Sentinel-2 under both hydrological and thermal stress conditions. Initial findings indicate that paddy plots subjected to more than three consecutive days of flooding or LST values exceeding 35C during the flowering stage exhibited significant vegetation stress and potential yield reductions. This spatio-temporal analysis provides critical insights to support precision agriculture, enhance irrigation strategies, and strengthen climate resilience in rice-growing ecosystems.

Keywords: Paddy field, flood mapping, soil heat stress, land surface temperature (LST), Sentinel-1 and NDVI

Topic: Topic B: Applications of Remote Sensing