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Remote sensing of volumetric storage changes in lakes
Author(s) -
Smith Laurence C.,
Pavelsky Tamlin M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.1822
Subject(s) - bathymetry , hydrology (agriculture) , stage (stratigraphy) , water storage , altimeter , geology , environmental science , remote sensing , water level , surface water , physical geography , oceanography , geography , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , cartography , environmental engineering , inlet
Abstract Three‐dimensional remote sensing promises a giant leap forward for surface‐water hydrology in much the same way that radar altimetry transformed physical oceanography. However, the complex geometries of small terrestrial water bodies introduce difficulties, particularly with respect to trade‐offs between changing water depth and inundation area. We use in situ measurements of water‐surface stage (Δ H /d t ) and remotely‐sensed area ( A ) to compute time varying storage changes (Δ S ) in nine lakes of the Peace‐Athabasca Delta, Canada. Despite their identical geomorphic setting, regression slopes between Δ H and A vary significantly between lakes, primarily from a predictable ‘area‐effect’ but also small bathymetric variations between basins. On average, lateral contraction/expansion (versus stage adjustment) contributes as little as 7% (versus 93%) to as much as 76% (versus 24%) of overall storage change Δ S . We conclude that both surface‐area and Δ H /d t , rather than just either alone, must be measured to confidently estimate Δ S from space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.