APPLICATION OF REMOTE-SENSING METHODS TO HYDROLOGY AND WATER-RESOURCES

A brief review of research in remote sensing of water resources indica tes that there are many positive results, and some techniques have bee n applied operationally. Currently, remote sensing data are being used operationally in precipitation estimates, soil moisture measurements for irrigation scheduling, snow water equivalent and snow cover extent assessments, seasonal and short term snowmelt runoff forecasts, and s urface water inventories. In the next decade other operational applica tions are likely using remote measurements of land cover, sediment loa ds, erosion, groundwater, and areal inputs to hydrological models. Man y research challenges remain, and significant progress is expected in areas like albedo measurements, energy budgets, and evapotranspiration estimation. The research in remote sensing and water resources also h as much relevance for related studies of climate change and global hab itability.