This Google Earth Engine visualization documents the visible transformation of the Osun River ecosystem over ten years (2014-2024) by revealing year after year of satellite evidence that shows a progression of the river's shift from relatively clear waters to the characteristic brown, murky appearance documented in investigations over the years.
The satellite-based measurement of water clarity using remote sensing techniques provides quantitative data on suspended solid concentrations that correlate with ground-based water quality testing from investigations and the documentation of vegetation loss along river banks, showing how mining activities and agricultural intensification have reduced natural systems that historically protected water quality.
This satellite visualization also corroborates evidence of the operations of both licensed mining areas and unauthorized excavation sites, showing the spatial relationship between formal and informal resource extraction, as well as backing the evidence of the geographic analysis of large-scale mining operations introduced after 2018, and correlating increased industrial activity with observable environmental changes.
Witness the environmental impact through the lens of satellite technology and time-lapse imagery.
A Timeline of a Decade of Destruction Captured in Real Time
Explore the River Route & see the real time impact of the Pollution