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Constructing Reservoir Area-Volume-Elevation Curve from TanDEM-X DEM Data.

Yao Li1, Huilin Gao1, George H Allen2

  • 1Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA.

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
|March 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new method to create area-volume-elevation (AVE) curves for reservoirs using TanDEM-X data. This framework accurately maps reservoir topography and water levels, crucial for operational rules.

Keywords:
BathymetryDEMTanDEM-Xhydrologyreservoirsatellite remote sensingwater resources

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Area of Science:

  • Geosciences
  • Remote Sensing
  • Hydrology

Background:

  • Area-volume-elevation (AVE) curves are essential for effective reservoir management and operational rules.
  • Publicly available AVE data is scarce for most global reservoirs, hindering accurate water resource management.
  • Existing methods for deriving AVE curves are often limited by data availability and accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a novel framework for deriving reservoir AVE curves using TanDEM-X satellite data.
  • To demonstrate the framework's application using Lake Mead as a case study.
  • To assess the accuracy and reliability of the derived AVE curves against in situ measurements.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized TanDEM-X data, processed with Global Surface Water (GSW) dataset extents and a TanDEM-X water indication mask (WAM).
  • Derived visible bathymetry by analyzing topography between maximum historical water extent and current water extents.
  • Integrated transitional water elevations, identified through amplitude and coherence thresholding, to extend the AVE curve's elevation range.

Main Results:

  • Successfully generated AVE curves for Lake Mead, extending elevation ranges using TanDEM-X data.
  • Achieved high accuracy in elevation-area (E-A) and elevation-volume (E-V) relationships, with R² > 0.99 and NRMSE < 2.45%.
  • Demonstrated TanDEM-X's capability to capture interannual variations and reliable elevation measurements of lake shore areas.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed framework effectively derives accurate AVE curves from TanDEM-X data, addressing the lack of public reservoir data.
  • TanDEM-X satellite data offers a reliable and accurate method for mapping reservoir bathymetry and water level dynamics.
  • The derived AVE curves provide crucial information for improving reservoir operation rules and water resource management.