Ishikawa et al. (2025) Evaluation of a Width‐Based Satellite Discharge Algorithm for Detecting Longitudinal Flow Changes in a Human‐Regulated Continental River Basin

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-26
• Authors: Yuki Ishikawa, Dai Yamazaki, Yuting Yang
• DOI: 10.1029/2024gl114191

Research Groups

Not specified in the abstract.

Short Summary

This study investigated the capabilities and limitations of estimating spatially continuous river discharge using satellite-observed river width and the AMHG-based algorithm (BAM) along the Yellow River. It found that the method can reproduce spatial discharge patterns, with improved accuracy using irrigation-corrected prior discharge, but faces significant challenges in levee-confined reaches.

Objective

• To investigate the capabilities and limitations of estimating spatially continuous river discharge using satellite-observed river width and the AMHG-based algorithm (BAM).
• To examine whether width-derived discharge estimates can capture both natural and anthropogenic streamflow variations.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 668 reaches along the Yellow River mainstem.
• Temporal Scale: Not specified in the abstract.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: AMHG-based algorithm (BAM).
• Data sources: Satellite-observed river width; prior discharge estimates (some irrigation-corrected).

Main Results

• The method successfully reproduced discharge increases at tributary confluences and decreases in irrigated sections, indicating its potential to represent realistic spatial patterns.
• Incorporating irrigation-corrected prior discharge improved estimation accuracy, particularly in downstream reaches affected by human activities.
• Large errors remained in levee-confined reaches due to poor co-variability between river width and discharge, limiting performance.

Contributions

• Demonstrates that satellite-based width measurements, when supported by appropriate prior discharge estimates, offer a promising means to monitor discharge in ungauged basins.
• Highlights key challenges and limitations of the method in regulated rivers, particularly those with levee-confined sections.

Funding

Not specified in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Ishikawa2025Evaluation,
  author = {Ishikawa, Yuki and Yamazaki, Dai and Yang, Yuting},
  title = {Evaluation of a Width‐Based Satellite Discharge Algorithm for Detecting Longitudinal Flow Changes in a Human‐Regulated Continental River Basin},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2024gl114191},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl114191}
}