Surface water is all inland waters standing or flowing on the surface of the land and coastal waters, including the territorial sea. Surface water bodies are divided into flowing (rivers, streams, ditches, canals), stagnant (lakes, ponds) and coastal water bodies. To manage surface water bodies, they are divided into parts, i.e. clearly distinct water bodies, and their records are kept.

The goal of water management plans is to achieve at least good status for surface and groundwater, to ensure the sustainable use of water, and to guarantee high-quality drinking water.

Remote sensing is an important tool in meteorological and environmental monitoring, allowing for the observation and collection of data on the atmosphere and Earth's condition from a distance. This technology uses satellites, drones, and sensors to gather information about the weather, air quality, forests, water bodies, and much more.

One of the initiatives of the European Union is the Copernicus programme, which focuses on the comprehensive monitoring of the Earth's environment and atmosphere and information sharing. This ambitious initiative was created to provide research, innovation and information to understand and protect our planet and its resources better.