HYDROLOGIC MODELING WITH REMOTELY-SENSED DATABASES

An integrated remotely sensed database was used as the basis for a hyd rologic and sediment transport modeling effort for an agricultural are a of western Puerto Rico. Classified spectral images of airborne radia nce data provided ground cover information and were used in conjunctio n with topographic and soils data to guide model construction and prov ide input to the water balance and sediment yield simulations. Runoff and sediment discharge from hydrologically homogeneous regions were ro uted through the drainage network and combined at the basin outlet. Th e model was used to simulate four years of observed sediment discharge from the basin. Relative contributions to the total sediment yield of forested and agricultural areas were determined and compared.