Global Characterization of Inland Water Reservoirs Using ICESat-2 Altimetry and Climate Reanalysis

Details

• Journal Title:
  Geophysical Research Letters
• Personal Author:
  Ryan, Jonathan C. ; Smith, Laurence C. ; Cooley, Sarah W. ; Pitcher, Lincoln H. ; Pavelsky, Tamlin M.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences)
• Description:
  Accurate, transparent knowledge of global reservoir levels is a prerequisite for effective management of water resources. However, no complete database exists because gauge data are not globally available and the current generation of satellite radar altimeters resolves only the world's largest reservoirs. Here, we investigate water level changes in global reservoirs using ICESat-2, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s new satellite laser altimetry mission. In just the first 12 months of the mission, we find that ICESat-2 accurately (±14.1 cm) retrieved water level changes for 3,712 global reservoirs having surface areas ranging from <1 to >10,000 km2. From this new global data set, we identify distinct regional patterns in reservoir level change that can be attributed to both water availability and management strategy. Our findings demonstrate that ICESat-2 will form a crucial component of any global reservoir level inventory and enable new insight into how reservoir management responds to climatic variability and increasing human demand.
• Keywords:
  ICESat-2 Remote Sensing Reservoirs Water Resources Remote Sensing Water Resources
• Source:
  Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL088543
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088543
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Rights Information:
  Other
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:928ecf32550b71dcff0dde31577682495f1f07707a6465558d4e903b381d4144
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/31859/noaa_31859_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.11 MB ]