Tidal flats are threatened by tidal reclamation and climatic changes around the world. Particular challenges exist in China where changing rapidly along with accelerated economic development coastal regions. The unique important ecosystem functions services that provide regions warrant necessary of mapping such a particular land cover type high precision accuracy. Existing national flat maps China, which were derived from 30-m resolution Landsat imagery auxiliary data, insufficient to support practical management efforts. In this study, order produce an accurate map finer spatial resolution, we employed 28,367 scenes time series Sentinel-2 images acquired 2019 2020 entire line China. short revisit cycle (2–5 days) improved opportunities obtaining highest lowest tide images, (10-m) enhanced capacity extraction. A rapid, robust, automated approach is essential large-scale applications. developed integrating maximum spectral index composite (MSIC) Otsu algorithm (OA), so named MSIC-OA. By GEE platform, execution MSIC-OA produced up-to-date 10-m (China_Tidal Flat, CTF). Validated massive field-based observations selected edge-points, CTF achieved overall accuracy 95% F1 score 0.93. As calculated, total area was 858,784 ha, Jiangsu Province accounted largest proportion (24%) total. This study first attempt delineate automatically at resolution. can information for ecosystems facilitate implementations marine related Sustainable Development Goals.

Rapid, robust, and automated mapping of tidal flats in China using time series Sentinel-2 images and Google Earth Engine