With the proliferation and wide accessibility of remotely sensed information, data from remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), piloted airplanes, and satellite missions such as Landsat, Sentinel, NISAR and VIIRS are being increasingly used to better our understanding of the shifting hydrological processes on the earth’s surface in the 21st century. This continuous increase of remote sensing data sources has opened new or enhanced applications in hydrology, especially in the framework of water flux modelling. Their integration with long-term in-situ data, for both regional and large-scale analyses still needs skilled assessment in many scientific and operational applications. For example, the scale effects of a coarse mapping of such variables can strongly affect the accuracy of hydrological models, and pose a constraint for harnessing remote sensing data in forecasting schemes or scenario assessments.
The session presents and discusses recent advances in the remote sensing of hydrological cycle components as well as the application of remote sensing in hydrological modeling, often enhanced through the use of in-situ data collection, to better understand gaps, opportunities, and challenges in the study and simulation of hydrological processes in the 21st century. In particular, we encourage submissions focused on:
* Advanced remote sensing of water cycle components such as evapotranspiration, infiltration, and water abstraction for agricultural use
* Hydrological extremes such as floods and droughts
* Improving monitoring in poorly gauged and ungauged basins
* Developing novel methods of gathering and combining in-situ benchmark data with remote sensing approaches
*Optimal integration of remote sensing and hydrological modelling and the performance of using remotely sensed data in driving hydrological models, multi-variable calibration and spatial evaluation
* Tools tailored for end-users out of the remote sensing community
* Integrating remote sensing into operational systems (flood alerts, drought risks, …)
*The added-value of spatially downscaling remotely sensed data to improve hydrological modelling
This session is co-organised by the International Commission of Remote Sensing (ICRS) of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) in the context of the HELPING scientific decade (Hydrology Engaging Local People IN one Global world).