Title

On Evaluation of Satellite Precipitation and Energy Flux Estimates

Date of Completion

January 2010

Keywords

Engineering, General|Engineering, Civil

Degree

Ph.D.

Abstract

This research study aims at improving the scientific community's quantitative knowledge on the accuracy of precipitation and surface energy flux estimates obtained from remote sensing methods. The main objectives are to: (1) evaluate ground-based radar rainfall products through stream flow simulation of a small watershed in a hydrological modeling framework; (2) evaluate high-resolution satellite rainfall products through comparison with independent high-quality ground-based rainfall dataset; (3) evaluate high-resolution satellite rainfall products through stream flow simulation over a small watershed in a hydrological modeling framework; and (4) evaluate large aperture scintillometer sensible heat flux estimates with a network of eddy covariance measurements. ^ Our results reveal the following: (1) Radar rainfall can provide a reliable source of rainfall input for stream flow simulation in small watersheds; (2) estimation error in high-resolution satellite rainfall products exhibit strong regional dependence; (3) high-resolution satellite rainfall estimates can be useful source of rainfall data for stream flow simulation in watersheds as small as 20 sq. km; and (4) large aperture scintillometer provide high-quality information on energy flux to evaluate the accuracy of remote sensing energy flux estimates. ^

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