Application of GLDAS models and ALS point clouds in assessing the impact of modified evapotranspiration on the water...

Monitoring and assessing the water budget is crucial, especially in the context of climate change and increasing occurrences of extreme weather events. The water budget is influenced by precipitation, evapotranspiration, and surface runoff, which are shaped by meteorological conditions. Additionally, terrain topography and land cover structure play a significant role, although they are often overlooked in water budget calculations. This study presents the integration of data from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) and airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds, enabling a comprehensive analysis of hydrological processes. The results highlight that modified evapotranspiration significantly affects water availability, particularly in regions with diverse topography, where terrain features influence local hydrological conditions. The findings confirm that precipitation remains the dominant factor in the water budget, but terrain-driven variations in evapotranspiration contribute to seasonal and spatial differences. The study demonstrates that incorporating ALS-derived vegetation and terrain data into hydrological modeling improves the accuracy of water budget assessments, which is crucial for sustainable water resource management.