HR: 0800h
AN: H31A-0117    [Abstracts]
TI: River Runoff Estimates on the Basis of Satellite-Derived Surface Currents and Water Levels
AU: * Gruenler, S
EM: steffen.gruenler@zmaw.de
AF: University of Hamburg, Institute of Oceanography, Bundesstrasse 53, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
AU: Romeiser, R
EM: romeiser@ifm.uni-hamburg.de
AF: University of Hamburg, Institute of Oceanography, Bundesstrasse 53, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
AU: Stammer, D
EM: detlef.stammer@zmaw.de
AF: University of Hamburg, Institute of Oceanography, Bundesstrasse 53, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
AB: One promising technique for river runoff estimates from space is the retrieval of surface currents on the basis of synthetic aperture radar along-track interferometry (ATI). The German satellite TerraSAR-X, which was launched in June 2007, permits current measurements by ATI in an experimental mode of operation. Based on numerical simulations, we present first findings of a research project in which the potential of satellite measurements of various parameters with different temporal and spatial sampling characteristics is evaluated and a dedicated data synthesis system for river discharge estimates is developed. We address the achievable accuracy and limitations of such estimates for different local flow conditions at selected test sites. High-resolution three- dimensional current fields in the Elbe river (Germany) from a numerical model of the German Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW) are used as reference data set and input for simulations of a variety of possible measuring and data interpretation strategies to be evaluated. For example, runoff estimates on the basis of measured surface current fields and river widths from TerraSAR-X and water levels from radar altimetry are simulated. Despite the simplicity of some of the applied methods, the results provide quite comprehensive pictures of the Elbe river runoff dynamics. Although the satellite-based river runoff estimates exhibit a lower accuracy in comparison to traditional gauge measurements, the proposed measuring strategies are quite promising for the monitoring of river discharge dynamics in regions where only sparse in-situ measurements are available. We discuss the applicability to a number of major rivers around the world.
DE: 1855 Remote sensing (1640)
DE: 1860 Streamflow
DE: 1872 Time series analysis (3270, 4277, 4475)
DE: 1895 Instruments and techniques: monitoring
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting