scholarly journals Detection of total water mass changes in the Patagonian glaciers area by satellite gravimetry

2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-174
Author(s):  
Ayelen Pereira ◽  
Cecilia Cornero ◽  
Ana Cristina Oliveira Cancoro de Matos ◽  
Maria Cristina Pacino ◽  
Denizar Blitzkow
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Water Mass ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Satellite Mission ◽  
Satellite Gravimetry ◽  
Southern Patagonia ◽  
Patagonian Lakes

Despite present efforts to better understand glacier changes and their trends, the satellite gravimetry is a powerful tool still not applied in depth to study relatively large areas in the Andes of Argentina and Chile. In this work the mass variations of the Patagonian Icefield are analyzed together with the decrease trends of the ice layer in the region. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the GRACE satellite mission (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) ability to detect the water storage changes over the glaciers area. Furthermore, the variations of the hydrometric level of some Patagonian lakes were monitored by combining satellite altimetry data and in situ measurements with the observed water mass variations. Data from GRACE was used to estimate gravity trends, and high-resolution CSR GRACE RL05 mascon solutions were used to analyze the water storage change of the icefields in the region under study for the 2002-2017 period. Virtual stations from satellite altimetry obtained from a lake database and also hydrometric height data from in situ stations, located at Patagonian lakes in Argentina and Chile, were also used in order to compare the TWS from GRACE to the water level of the specific lakes. Additionally, correlation coefficients were determined at each station.  The results show a significant water storage decrease in the Icefield area, and they also demonstrate that the ice melt in southern Patagonia (of about 6 cm/year) tends to be more pronounced than in the northern region.

scholarly journals Satellite altimetry over small reservoirs in the Brazilian semiarid region

RBRH ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Ribeiro Neto ◽  
Sajedeh Behnia ◽  
Mohammad J. Tourian ◽  
Fábio Araújo da Costa ◽  
Nico Sneeuw
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Small Reservoirs ◽  
Brazilian Semiarid

ABSTRACT Northeast Brazil is one of the most populated semiarid regions in the world. The region is highly dependent on reservoirs for human water supply, irrigation, industry, and livestock. The objective of this study was to validate water level time series from the satellites Envisat, SARAL, Sentinel-3A/-3B, Jason-2/-3 in small reservoirs in Northeast Brazil. In total, we evaluated the water level time series of 20 reservoirs. The Sentinel-3B outperforms the other altimeters with a maximum RMSE of 0.21 m. In seven reservoirs with updated depth-area-volume curves, the altimetric water level was used to calculate the corresponding volume. The obtained volume was then compared to the volume given by the same curve by using in situ stage. Our investigations showed that, in the case of small reservoirs, the precision of water level time series derived from satellite altimetry is mainly governed by the seasonal variability of the water storage especially at the end of the 2012-2017 drought period.

scholarly journals Satellite altimetry reveals spatial patterns of variations in the Baltic Sea wave climate

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadezhda Kudryavtseva ◽  
Tarmo Soomere
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Wave Climate ◽  
Good Correspondence ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wave Heights ◽  
Consistent Picture ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract. The main properties of the climate of waves in the seasonally ice-covered Baltic Sea and its decadal changes since 1990 are estimated from satellite altimetry data. The data set of significant wave heights (SWHs) from all existing nine satellites, cleaned and cross-validated against in situ measurements, shows overall a very consistent picture. A comparison with visual observations shows a good correspondence with correlation coefficients of 0.6–0.8. The annual mean SWH reveals a tentative increase of 0.005 m yr−1, but higher quantiles behave in a cyclic manner with a timescale of 10–15 years. Changes in the basin-wide average SWH have a strong meridional pattern: an increase in the central and western parts of the sea and a decrease in the east. This pattern is likely caused by a rotation of wind directions rather than by an increase in the wind speed.

scholarly journals Downscaling GRACE total water storage change using partial least squares regression

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bramha Dutt Vishwakarma ◽  
Jinwei Zhang ◽  
Nico Sneeuw
Keyword(s):  
Water Mass ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Satellite Mission ◽  
Grace Data ◽  
Gravity Recovery ◽  
Storage Change

AbstractThe Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission recorded temporal variations in the Earth’s gravity field, which are then converted to Total Water Storage Change (TWSC) fields representing an anomaly in the water mass stored in all three physical states, on and below the surface of the Earth. GRACE provided a first global observational record of water mass redistribution at spatial scales greater than 63000 km2. This limits their usability in regional hydrological applications. In this study, we implement a statistical downscaling approach that assimilates 0.5° × 0.5° water storage fields from the WaterGAP hydrology model (WGHM), precipitation fields from 3 models, evapotranspiration and runoff from 2 models, with GRACE data to obtain TWSC at a 0.5° × 0.5° grid. The downscaled product exploits dominant common statistical modes between all the hydrological datasets to improve the spatial resolution of GRACE. We also provide open access to scripts that researchers can use to produce downscaled TWSC fields with input observations and models of their own choice.

scholarly journals Combining in-situ measurements and altimetry to estimate volume, heat and salt transport variability through the Faroe Shetland Channel

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Berx ◽  
B. Hansen ◽  
S. Østerhus ◽  
K. M. Larsen ◽  
T. Sherwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Water Mass ◽  
Volume Transport ◽  
Salt Transport ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Average Volume ◽  
Large Level ◽  
Height Data ◽  
Temperature Depth

Abstract. From 1994 to 2011, instruments measuring ocean currents (ADCPs) have been moored on a section crossing the Faroe-Shetland Channel. Together with CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) measurements from regular research vessel occupations, they describe the flow field and water mass structure in the channel. Here, we use these data to calculate the average volume transport and properties of the flow of warm water through the channel from the Atlantic towards the Arctic, termed the Atlantic inflow. We find the average volume transport of this flow to be 2.7 ± 0.5 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1) between the shelf edge on the Faroe side and the 150 m isobath on the Shetland side. The average heat transport (relative to 0 °C) was estimated to be 107 ± 21 TW and the average salt import to be 98 ± 20 × 106 kg s−1. Transport values for individual months, based on the ADCP data, include a large level of variability, but can be used to calibrate sea level height data from satellite altimetry. In this way, a time series of volume transport has been generated back to the beginning of satellite altimetry in December 1992. The Atlantic inflow has a seasonal variation in volume transport that peaks around the turn of the year and has an amplitude of 0.7 Sv. The Atlantic inflow has become warmer and more saline since 1994, but no equivalent trend in volume transport was observed.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF WATER MASS VARIATIONS AT WETLANDS REGIONS FROM GRACE: THE PANTANAL CASE

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Cecilia Cornero ◽  
AYELEN PEREIRA ◽  
MARÍA CRISTINA PACINO
Keyword(s):  
Water Mass ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Satellite Gravity ◽  
The North ◽  
Paraguay River ◽  
Gravity Recovery ◽  
Gravity Mission

ABSTRACT. The natural heritage of biodiversity of the Paraguay river basin is subject to potential impacts due to climate change. To monitor these environments at large spatial scales, the satellite gravity mission GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) provides time-variable Earth’s gravity field models that reflect the variations due to mass transport processes, like continental water storage changes. The purpose of this work is to analyze the spatial and temporal water storage changes for period 2003-2014 using the Equivalent Water Height (EWH) derived from the GRACE solutions in the Pantanal region, one of the most biologically rich environments of the planet. The comparison with EWH and river gauge data at different stations distributed over the Pantanal area was carried out. In order to validate the satellite results, the correlation analysis between the water mass changes and river gauge measurements was obtained, and also the phase differences were analyzed. High correlations were detected at the north, and lower ones towards the south of the Pantanal. The EWH were also contrasted with soil moisture and rainfall data models. The results showed a good agreement between the signals for the area under study.Keywords: water storage, satellite gravity mission, river gauge, rainfall. RESUMO. O patrimônio natural de biodiversidade da bacia do rio Paraguai está sujeito a potenciais impactos das mudanças climáticas. Para monitorar esse ambiente em escala espacial, a missão satelital GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) fornece modelos do campo de gravidade da Terra variáveis no tempo devido ao processo de transporte de massa, como as variações de armazenamento de água continentais. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a variabilidade espacial e temporal de armazenamento de água para o período 2003-2014 através da altura equivalente d’água (EWH) derivada das soluções deGRACE na região do Pantanal, um dos ambientes biologicamente mais ricos do planeta. Comparações dos dados de EWH e alturas d’água in-situ foram feitas para diferentes estações distribuídas na região do Pantanal. Com a finalidade de validar os resultados de satélite, foi feita a análise de correlação entre as mudanças de massa d’água e as medições das réguas linimétricas fixadas nas margens dos rios. As diferenças de fase também foram analisadas. Ao Norte do Pantanal foram detectadas altas correlações entre as duas alturas (EWH versus in-situ), e baixas em direção ao sul. O EWH também foi validado com modelos de umidade do solo e precipitação. Os resultados mostraram uma boa concordância entre os sinais para a área em estudo. Palavras-chave: armazenamento de água, missão satelital, cotas do nível d’água, precipitação.

scholarly journals HydroSat: a repository of global water cycle products from spaceborne geodetic sensors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad J. Tourian ◽  
Omid Elmi ◽  
Yasin Shafaghi ◽  
Sajedeh Behnia ◽  
Peyman Saemian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
Global Database ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Global Water Cycle ◽  
Terrestrial Water ◽  
Global Water

Abstract. Against the backdrop of global change, both in terms of climate and demography, there is a pressing need for monitoring the global water cycle. The publicly available global database is very limited in its spatial and temporal coverage worldwide. Moreover, the acquisition of in situ data and their delivery to the database are in decline since the late 1970s, be it for economical or political reasons. Given the insufficient monitoring from in situ gauge networks, and with no outlook for improvement, spaceborne approaches have been under investigation for some years now. Satellite-based Earth observation with its global coverage and homogeneous accuracy has been demonstrated to be a potential alternative to in situ measurements. This paper presents HydroSat as a repository of global water cycle products from spaceborne geodetic sensors. HydroSat provides time series and their uncertainty of: water level from satellite altimetry, surface water extent from satellite imagery, terrestrial water storage anomaly from satellite gravimetry, lake and reservoir water storage anomaly from a combination of satellite altimetry and imagery, and river discharge from either satellite altimetry or imagery. These products can contribute to understanding the global water cycle within the Earth system in several ways. They can act as inputs to hydrological models, they can play a complementary role to current and future spaceborne observations, and they can define indicators of the past and future state of the global freshwater system. The repository is publicly available through http://hydrosat.gis.uni-stuttgart.de.

scholarly journals Monitoreo de la variación del almacenamiento de agua en la cuenca del Medio y Bajo Paraná a partir de datos GRACE, GRACE FO, TRMM y GLDAS

2021 ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Cecilia Cornero ◽  
Aylen Pereira ◽  
Ana C. O. C. Matos ◽  
M. Cristina Pacino ◽  
Denizar Blitzkow
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Water Mass ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
La Niña ◽  
Satellite Mission ◽  
Mass Distributions ◽  
La Nina ◽  
Grace Data

<p>GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) is a satellite mission that can monitor mass distributions in the Earth system, which is closely related to the consequences of climate change. This gravimetric satellite allows to obtain monthly variations of the Earth’s gravity field, which can be associated with water mass variations, after removing the effects of oceanic tides and solid Earth, as well as non-tidal oceanic and atmospheric contributions. In this work, data from GRACE (2002-2017) and GRACE FO (since 2018) were used to analyze the variation of the water mass in the Middle and Low Paraná river basin. The interpretation of the results was carried out by associating the mass anomalies derived from GRACE data with information from the TRMM global rainfall mission. Monthly maps of GRACE water mass variations and TRMM precipitation were produced, which made possible a thorough analysis at a regional level of this mass redistribution in the basin, and its connection to the El Niño and La Niña events that took place in the period under study. The water deficits shown in the 2009 GRACE maps are, in fact, related to the intense episode of La Niña that occurred in the period 2008-2009; while the excess of water storage depicted on the 2016 and 2019 maps is connected to the El Niño phenomenon. Moreover, GRACE has also detected drought events in different sectors between 2011-2012, together with floods in the years 2007 and 2010. Monthly GRACE-derived water storage changes were compared with the independent components of the water balance in the region using different hydrological models estimates. Finally, the temporal variations of the groundwater and the soil part (surface water, soil moisture) were analyzed using the Global Land Data Assimilation System GLDAS. The variables showed a good correlation between them, reaching values of <span> ~</span>r = 0.80.</p>

scholarly journals REMOTE SENSING OF WATER BALANCE IN PANTANAL

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Adriana Aparecida Moreira ◽  
Alice César Fassoni-Andrade ◽  
Anderson Luis Ruhoff ◽  
Rodrigo Cauduro Dias de Paiva
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Storage Change ◽  
Hydrological Variables

Pantanal, located in the Upper Paraguay basin, is the world’s largest tropical wetland. The maintenance of this ecosystem depends on the water balance since precipitation is seasonal and high losses of water occur due to the high evapotranspiration. Water balance assessment using in situ data is still a challenge due to the large extension of the area and the complexity to be represented. In this study, the water balance in the Upper Paraguay basin was investigated based on hydrological variables derived from remote sensing data. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, and water storage change data were estimated with accuracy by the water balance, but the same was not possible for the discharge. However, high uncertainties in the estimates were verified, mainly during the rainy season. The remote sensing data allowed the identification of the seasonality of hydrological variables in the Pantanal system and in the different regions of the basin: Chaco, Pantanal and Planalto. Water deficit in the basin was observed from March/April to September as well as a positive water balance due to precipitation during the rest of the year. The spatial analysis of the basin showed that in the northern region, the precipitation, the evapotranspiration, and the water storage variation are higher than in the southern region. Results demonstrated that remote sensing data can help in the comprehension of hydrological systems operation, especially in large wetland regions.

scholarly journals Study of water storage variations at the Pantanal wetlands area from GRACE monthly mass grids

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Ayelen Pereira ◽  
Cecilia Cornero ◽  
Ana C. O. C. Matos ◽  
M. Cristina Pacino ◽  
Denizar Blitzkow
Keyword(s):  
Water Mass ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Satellite Gravity ◽  
The North ◽  
Paraguay River ◽  
Gravity Recovery ◽  
Grace Mission ◽  
Phase Differences

Abstract The continental water storage is significantly in-fluenced by wetlands, which are highly affected by climate change and anthropogenic influences. The Pantanal, located in the Paraguay river basin, is one of the world’s largest and most important wetlands because of the environmental biodiversity that represents. The satellite gravity mission GRACE (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) provided until 2017 time-variable Earth’s gravity field models that reflected the variations due to mass transport processes-like continental water storage changes-which allowed to study environments such as wetlands, at large spatial scales. The water storage variations for the period 2002-2016, by using monthly land water mass grids of Total Water Storage (TWS) derived from GRACE solutions, were evaluated in the Pantanal area. The capability of the GRACE mission for monitoring this particular environment is analyzed, and the comparison of the water mass changes with rainfall and hydrometric heights data at different stations distributed over the Pantanal region was carried out. Additionally, the correlation between the TWS and river gauge measurements, and the phase differences for these variables, were also evaluated. Results show two distinct zones: high correlations and low phase shifts at the north, and smaller correlation values and consequently significant phase differences towards the south. This situation is mainly related to the hydrogeological domains of the area.

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