Article
Water Resources
Irene Garousi-Nejad, David Tarboton
Summary: This study compared the US National Water Model (NWM) snow outputs to observed snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow-covered area fraction (SCAF) in the Western United States, finding that the model generally under-predicted SWE, with model input temperatures slightly cooler than observed and a tendency to melt snow early.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Irene Garousi-Nejad, David G. G. Tarboton
Summary: This study compares the outputs of the US National Water Model (NWM) with observed data on snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow-covered area fraction (SCAF) in the Western United States. The NWM generally underestimates SWE and tends to melt snow early. There are also discrepancies between modelled and observed SCAF, attributed to model parameterization and observation limitations. The study identifies areas for improvement in the NWM's predictions related to snow.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jeremy Giovando, Jeffrey D. Niemann
Summary: The study found that wildfires have advanced melt-out dates, reduced maximum SWE dates, and decreased annual maximum SWE levels. The combined effects of climate and wildfire have led to more significant changes. Wildfire impacts on SWE are influenced by several controlling variables.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Emile Elias, Darren James, Sierra Heimel, Caiti Steele, Heidi Steltzer, Cynthia Dott
Summary: The study in the Upper Rio Grande Basin in the United States found that more than half of the locations in the region experienced significant declines in maximum snow water equivalent, with an overall decline of -0.4 cm/year. The maximum snow water equivalent occurred earlier at most sites, with variations in the advancement ranging from 18 to 48 days. Despite earlier snowmelt, there was no change in the snowmelt window, indicating potential impacts on water resources in the region.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily E. Smoot, Kelly E. Gleason
Summary: As climate warms, snow-water storage decreases and forest fires increase, leading to reduced water availability. In some regions, burned forests accelerate snowmelt, affecting water resources across the area.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephanie K. Kampf, Daniel McGrath, Megan G. Sears, Steven R. Fassnacht, Leonie Kiewiet, John C. Hammond
Summary: Wildfire area has been increasing in most ecoregions across the western United States, especially in the late snow zones, with 70% of ecoregions experiencing significant increases since 1984. The reduction of snow due to burning can have impacts on water resources and streamflow.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohua Chen, Guoping Tang, Tao Chen, Xiangyu Niu
Summary: This study examines how shifts in snowmelt rate and snow continuity affect snow-driven streamflow dynamics in alpine watersheds in the U.S. Great Basin. The results show that the decrease in snowmelt rate and the decline in snow continuity have shifted the occurrence and magnitude of snow-driven streamflow. The findings have important implications for water resource management in snow-dominated regions facing future climate warming.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anoop Valiya Veettil, Ali Fares, Ripendra Awal
Summary: Texas, the state with the highest variety and frequency of natural disasters in the United States, experienced significant impacts from the winter storm Uri in February 2021. The study reveals that Uri temporarily alleviated the drought conditions in Texas while causing a significant decrease in vegetation cover.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shengli Tao, Zurui Ao, Jean-Pierre Wigneron, Sassan Saatchi, Philippe Ciais, Jerome Chave, Thuy Le Toan, Pierre-Louis Frison, Xiaomei Hu, Chi Chen, Lei Fan, Mengjia Wang, Jiangling Zhu, Xia Zhao, Xiaojun Li, Xiangzhuo Liu, Yanjun Su, Tianyu Hu, Qinghua Guo, Zhiheng Wang, Zhiyao Tang, Yi Y. Liu, Jingyun Fang
Summary: Satellite radar backscatter provides unique information on land surface properties and has been widely used in Earth science. However, there is currently no long-term global radar dataset with suitable characteristics. In this study, we present the first long-term, high-resolution radar backscatter dataset over global land areas, called LHScat, by merging data from different sensors. We assessed the quality of the merged data and validated it against the ESA ERS-2 dataset. The results showed high accuracy and consistency of the merged radar signals, demonstrating the potential of LHScat to advance our understanding of long-term changes in global vegetation and soil moisture.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hiroshi Matsuyama, Takanori Watanabe, Valerii Zemtsov
Summary: The objective of this study is to clarify the regional difference in hydrometeorological parameters in Western Siberia (WS), an area which suffered from severe drought in the summer of 2012. The study investigated the temporal variation in the hydrometeorological data to understand the differences between regions. It was found that the extremely hot summer in 2012, particularly in June and July, combined with low snow water equivalent and precipitation levels, resulted in a severe drought in middle WS.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanjun Gan, Yu Zhang, Yuqiong Liu, Cezar Kongoli, Christopher Grassotti
Summary: This study investigates the potential of assimilating a blended in situ-satellite snow water equivalent (SWE) product into the National Water Model (NWM) to improve snow and streamflow predictions. Results show that a 5-day assimilation frequency using a three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) scheme performs the best, mitigating underestimation of SWE and improving streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Kang, K. Lee, E. J. Kim
Summary: The research in the Red River Basin showed improved streamflow prediction by adjusting snowfall observations. Experimental results indicated that streamflow simulations with M-factor adjustments during snowmelt seasons performed better, leading to higher prediction accuracy compared to simulations without adjustments.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leonardo Stucchi, Claudia Dresti, Daniele Bocchiola
Summary: This paper examines the climate and snow cover trends in the Ossola valley of the Western Italian Alps over a century. Multiple tests and datasets were used to analyze the temperature, precipitation, and snow depth, as well as their correlation with glacier retreat.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Wang, Barton A. Forman, Yuan Xue
Summary: This study explores improvements in the estimation of snow water equivalent (SWE) over snow-covered terrain using an ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) framework. The physically informed DA and 3-days thinning DA strategies show marginal improvements of basin-averaged SWE in terms of reduction of bias. Overall, the limited utility of PMW Delta T-b observations in complex terrain is highlighted, but physically based constraint approach and data thinning strategy can enhance the utility of the observations in the estimation of SWE.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. W. Clow, G. A. Akie, R. G. Striegl, C. A. Penn, G. A. Sexstone, G. L. Keith
Summary: This study measured aquatic carbon fluxes in mountain headwater streams and used a geostatistical analysis to determine how landscape characteristics influence these fluxes. The findings showed that wetlands have a positive influence on aquatic carbon fluxes, while perennial snow/ice has a negative effect. Mean annual temperature and precipitation also have impacts on aquatic carbon fluxes. Furthermore, dissolved organic matter and bicarbonate ions in the water showed strong dynamic responses to snowmelt and rain events.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bin Fang, Venkat Lakshmi, Michael Cosh, Pang-Wei Liu, Rajat Bindlish, Thomas J. Jackson
Summary: This study developed a downscaling algorithm based on thermal inertia theory to improve the spatial resolution of passive microwave soil moisture products from tens of kilometers to 1 km. The results showed that the downscaling model performed better in middle or low latitudes and in warm months. Validation with in situ soil moisture observations confirmed the reliability of the downscaled data.
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sananda Kundu, Venkat Lakshmi, Raymond Torres
Summary: This study estimated the changes in flood extent and depth caused by Hurricane Harvey using LiDAR DEM, SAR-UAVSAR, and Sentinel-1 satellite sensor data. The findings are important for disaster management and providing precise spatial information for relief organizations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica R. P. Sutton, Alexandra Jakobsen, Kathryn Lanyon, Venkat Lakshmi
Summary: With climate change, the occurrence, strength, and duration of typhoons are changing, and the use of satellite remote sensing precipitation data can better understand typhoon events.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Adil Alshammari, Venkat Lakshmi, Duke Brantley, Camelia C. Knapp, James H. Knapp
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of CO2 mineralization on subsurface storage, showing that faulted formations can effectively control CO2 migration and prevent leakage within the seal zone.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Prakrut Kansara, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: This paper compares the water levels of reservoirs derived from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 with those derived from altimetry-based measurements. It finds that Sentinel satellite imagery provides a viable alternative for monitoring reservoir water levels in the Nile River Basin.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Binh Quang Nguyen, Thanh-Nhan-Duc Tran, Maria Grodzka-Lukaszewska, Grzegorz Sinicyn, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: This study aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding the variations of temperature, evaporation, and humidity in Central Vietnam. The results showed that there is a consistent trend in temperature, evaporation, and humidity in Da Nang city, while an inverse relationship between temperature and humidity was observed in Quang Nam province. Both regions experienced an increase in temperature since 2000, along with an increase in the frequency of days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees C.
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Venkataraman Lakshmi, Markus Flury
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Runze Zhang, Steven Chan, Rajat Bindlish, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: Passive microwave remote sensing of soil moisture requires a physically based dielectric model. Mironov 2009, used in NASA's SMAP and ESA's SMOS missions, does not account for soil organic matter. A comparative analysis of nine soil dielectric models for organic soil in Alaska shows that models with soil organic matter tend to overestimate while mineral-soil-based models display dry biases. Among the models, Mironov 2019 performs slightly better. Separate use of Mironov 2009 and Mironov 2019 for mineral soils and organic soils is recommended.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chelsea Dandridge, Thomas A. Stanley, Dalia B. Kirschbaum, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: Rainfall-triggered landslides can cause devastating damage and loss of life. NASA's global landslide catalog (GLC) compiles a record of such events from media reports, academic articles, and existing databases. The database includes various types of mass movement events triggered by rainfall and covers the period from 2007 to 2018. The evaluation of the GLC reveals global patterns in landslide reporting, including spatial and temporal distribution and comparisons with other inventories.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aashutosh Aryal, Thanh-Nhan-Duc Tran, Brijesh Kumar, Venkataraman Lakshmi, Bahman Naser, Hongwei Lu, Lei Wang, Genxu Wang
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of four Satellite-derived Precipitation Products (SPPs) in Nepal's Myagdi Khola watershed and validates their accuracy using a hydrological model. The results show that SM2RAIN-ASCAT and GPM IMERGF perform better than MSWEP and CHIRPS in simulating daily and monthly streamflow.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Aashutosh Aryal, Rieks Bosch, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: The Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) is a systematic process that identifies gaps in regional climate adaptation strategies. This study focuses on Georgia's climate exposure, geographic sensitivity, and socio-economic sensitivity. It finds that the Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions are the most vulnerable to climate change.
Article
Water Resources
Kyung Y. Kim, Todd Scanlon, Sophia Bakar, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: Droughts are projected to increase in intensity and frequency with the rise of global mean temperatures. However, not all drought indices equally capture the variety of influences that each hydrologic component has on the duration and magnitude of a period of water deficit. The study conducted in the Limpopo River Basin highlights the significant decoupling trend between vegetation and groundwater anomalies, emphasizing the importance of considering local vegetation species in water management.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Runze Zhang, Seokhyeon Kim, Hyunglok Kim, Bin Fang, Ashish Sharma, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: This study presents a method using observed data to fill temporal gaps in satellite-based soil moisture products, resulting in a continuous and high-quality soil moisture product. By utilizing a water balance equation and precipitation observations, the generated 12-hourly soil moisture product exhibits excellent performance, aiding in the understanding of land-surface hydrology.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Muhammad Zohaib, Hyunglok Kim, Venkataraman Lakshmi
Summary: Spaceborne remote sensing is a valuable tool for studying soil moisture. This study compares the error characteristics of soil moisture estimates from different products and provides insights into their strengths and limitations. The findings can guide future research in this field.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sananda Kundu, Venkataraman Lakshmi, Raymond Torres
Summary: This study examines the temporal and spatial changes in flood water elevation and extent using SAR technology, finding a high correlation between SAR-derived flood depths and ground-based observations. The study emphasizes the importance of SAR remote sensing for flood monitoring.
IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING LETTERS
(2022)