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A comparative study of satellite altimetry-based and DEM-based methods for estimating lake water volume changes
Haotian Li1, Jun Chen2, Liguo Cao3
1Engineering Research Center of Building Energy Efficiency Control and Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China; School of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China.
Summary
This study compared satellite altimetry and digital elevation model (DEM) methods for tracking lake volume changes in China. Both methods showed high consistency, but each has limitations in data availability and terrain applicability.
Area of Science:
- Hydrology
- Remote Sensing
- Geospatial Analysis
Background:
- Accurate monitoring of lake water volume changes is crucial for water resource management and understanding climate impacts.
- Traditional methods for assessing lake volume changes are often limited by spatial or temporal resolution.
- Satellite-based remote sensing offers a promising approach for large-scale and long-term hydrological monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of satellite altimetry-based and digital elevation model (DEM)-based methods for estimating lake water volume changes.
- To evaluate the consistency and limitations of these two methods across different lake regions in China.
- To provide insights into the applicability of each method for hydrological studies.
Main Methods:
- Satellite altimetry-based method: Utilized water level data from DAHITI (Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters) and lake surface areas derived from Landsat imagery.
- DEM-based method: Employed SRTM DEM data combined with Landsat-derived lake extents to delineate lake boundaries and estimate volume.
- Study sites: Focused on 34 lakes across China, spanning diverse geographical and topographical conditions from 2005 to 2020.
Main Results:
- Both satellite altimetry and DEM-based methods demonstrated a high degree of consistency in estimating lake water volume changes (R² > 0.90).
- The satellite altimetry method faced limitations due to missing water level data in the DAHITI dataset, affecting temporal coverage.
- The DEM-based method showed variable performance, with excellent applicability in the Tibetan Plateau but reduced effectiveness in flat terrain regions like Xinjiang and Eastern China Plain.
Conclusions:
- Satellite altimetry and DEM-based approaches are reliable for monitoring lake water volume dynamics, showing strong agreement.
- Each method presents distinct limitations: temporal data gaps for altimetry and terrain-dependent accuracy for DEM-based methods.
- The choice of method should consider regional characteristics, data availability, and the specific requirements of hydrological research.
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