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Using width‐based rating curves from spatially discontinuous satellite imagery to monitor river discharge
Author(s) -
Pavelsky Tamlin M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.10157
Subject(s) - rating curve , satellite imagery , discharge , remote sensing , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , satellite , mean squared error , partial discharge , geology , geomorphology , drainage basin , cartography , statistics , geography , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , physics , sediment , quantum mechanics , voltage , astronomy
Remote estimation of river discharge from river width variations is an intriguing method for gauging rivers without conventional measurements. Entirely cloud‐free imagery of an entire river reach is often rare, but partial coverage is more frequent. Discharge is estimated from spatially discontinuous imagery via construction of multiple width–discharge rating curves within a 62‐km reach of the Tanana River, Alaska. The resulting discharge error is as low as 6.7% root mean squared error. Imagery covering <20% of the study reach can be used. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.