Research > Faculty Projects
Assimilation of EOS Remote Sensing Data for Hydrologic Forecasting in the Pacific Northwest
Principal Investigator
Leung Tsang, Dennis Lettenmaier (Civil Engineering), Ed Josberger (U.S. Geological Survey)
Sponsor(s)
National Aeronatucs and Space Administration
(NASA)
Award Period
09/15/2004 - 09/14/2008
Abstract
The primary objective of this research is to demonstrate
the value of remote sensing imagery, in combination with
existing numerical forecasting approaches, for initializing
snow extent and water equivalent in coupled hydrologic and
climate model forecast schemes designed to be applied over
continental-scale domains. Passive microwaves of SSMI have
exhibited strong signatures in the Stanley and Columbia
Basins. Initially, we will study the Stanley Basin. Then,
we will expand the study to the Columbia River Basin which
drains over one-half million square kilometers of the
Pacific Northwest. By combining macroscale hydrologic
forecasting and remotely sensed snow-cover estimates (based
on MODIS and AMSR), we will produce current and long range
(6 month) forecast maps of snow cover and SWE for the
Columbia River Basin. The forecasts will be made on a
weekly basis, at 1/8 degree resolution that agrees with the
resolution of AMSR data at 12.5 km and the MODIS at 500 m.
The forecasts will be over the course of three winters from
2003 to 2005. As the forecasting period progresses, we
will retrospectively verify the previously forecasted
mapping product both via comparison with observed snow
cover at point locations and with new satellite imagery,
and by comparison of simulated streamflow, which reveals
the snowmelt signal, against measured streamflow at a
number of basin locations. The driving meteorological
forecasts (from the NCEP Global Spectral Model) are
ensembles, which enable a quantitative, probabilistic
characterization of future snow cover unlike any snow
mapping products currently available.
Updates or corrections to this page should be sent to gheaton@u.washington.edu.
