Measurement of Mountain River Flow Characteristics from Formosat II Optical Satellite Imagery
Abstract
A number of recent field observations and model results have shown that the shape of an incising mountain river's planflorm is closely tied to the shape of its discharge distribution. However, due to logistical challenges and limited economic and societal needs, mountain rivers are rarely gauged, and the characteristics of their flow which control the styles and rates of erosion remain poorly understood. Using newly available high temporal and spatial resolution satellite imagery coupled with a key set of field measurements along a river in Taiwan's Central Mountains, we have developed a methodology to produce a set of rating curves based on flow width. With these rating curves we are able to use satellite observations of inundation extent to estimate flow depth, velocity, shear stress, and discharge along and across this mountain river. Our results demonstrate a new application for high resolution satellite imagery and provide data that gives new insight into the processes at work along bedrock rivers as well as important constraints for landscape evolution models and flood hazard assessments.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007AGUFM.H51E0792B
- Keywords:
-
- 1817 Extreme events;
- 1825 Geomorphology: fluvial (1625);
- 1856 River channels (0483;
- 0744);
- 1860 Streamflow;
- 6969 Remote sensing