Satellite remote sensing of river discharge: A framework for assessing the accuracy of discharge estimates made from satellite remote sensing observations
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- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Data Releases:
- USGS data release - Data from Across the USA Used to Assess the Uncertainty of Discharge Estimates Using a Modified Manning's Equation
- USGS data release - Water Surfaces Elevations from Pressure Transducers on the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska, 2016
- USGS data release - Water Surface Elevation Data Derived from Submersible Pressure Transducers Deployed in the Susitna, Yukon, and Nushagak Rivers, Alaska, Summers 2020-2021
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Abstract
This research presents an evaluation of the accuracy and uncertainty of estimates of river discharge made using satellite observed data sources as input to a modified form of Manning’s equation. Conventional U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow gaging station data and in-situ measurements of width, depth, height, slope, discharge, and velocity from 30 USGS gage sites were used as ground-truth to assess accuracy. This study explores accuracy in relation to the amount of ground truth information available, the number of calibration points available, and the accuracy of the input data. This research indicates that remotely sensed discharge estimates associated with the modified Manning equation may be expected to have an uncertainty in range of 10% overall given a sufficient number of calibration points. The uncertainty associated with the modified Manning algorithm increased markedly for depths <3 meters (m) and for discharges <1000 cubic meters per second (m3 / s) for many rivers after calibration. Rivers that exhibit (1) a wide range of flow conditions, (2) a significant number of dams in the watershed and along the channel, and (3) a high baseflow index are more likely to have relatively large errors overall and particularly at the low end of the streamflow range. Uncertainty in remotely sensed measurements of water-surface elevation (WSE) and width in the expected range (WSE, + / − 10 cm; Width, + / − 15 m) introduces uncertainty in the discharge estimates on the order of 10% and is greatest at the low end of discharge as rivers get shallower and narrower. As WSE and width measurement uncertainty increases, discharge uncertainty increases accordingly. In general, the observation errors are greater than the errors associated with the algorithm for a well-calibrated model (e.g., 20 calibration points). |
Suggested Citation
Bjerklie, D.M., Durand, M., LeNoir, J.M., Dudley, R., Birkett, C., Jones, J., Harlan, M.E., 2023, Satellite remote sensing of river discharge: A framework for assessing the accuracy of discharge estimates made from satellite remote sensing observations: Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, v. 17, no. 1, 014520, 47 p., https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.17.014520.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Satellite remote sensing of river discharge: A framework for assessing the accuracy of discharge estimates made from satellite remote sensing observations |
| Series title | Journal of Applied Remote Sensing |
| DOI | 10.1117/1.JRS.17.014520 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | SPIE |
| Contributing office(s) | New England Water Science Center |
| Description | 014520, 47 p. |