Analysis of Terrestrial Water Storage Components from Global Hydrological Model Simulations Validated by GRACE data and Water Balance Analysis

Among global water cycle components, terrestrial Water Storage (TWS) is one of the most difficult to estimate. Although GRACE data have been extensively applied in different regions with success, the decomposition of GRACE into TWS components is still a pending research issue, which significantly limits the capability of GRACE hydrologic applications. In this study, basin-scale TWS variations simulated by a land surface model MATSIRO, after validating with GRACE data and water balance analysis, are used to investigate the dominant TWS components as well as the relations among TWS components over 20 global largest river basins. The aspects and implications of GRACE signal separation by the aid of various supplementary hydro-meteorological data are discussed and briefly demonstrated.