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Satellite-based rainfall estimation and discharge measurement of Middle Indus River, Pakistan

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Abstract

The impacts of floods and droughts are intensified by climate change, lack of preparedness, and coordination. The average rainfall in study area is ranging from 200 to 400 mm per year. Rain gauge generally provides very accurate measurement of point rain rates and the amounts of rainfall but due to scarcity of the gauge locations provides very general information of the area on regional scale. Recognizing these practical limitations, it is essential to use remote sensing techniques for measuring the quantity of rainfall in the Middle Indus. In this research, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) estimation can be used as a proxy for the magnitude of rainfall estimates from classical methods (rain gauge), quantity, and its spatial distribution for Middle Indus river basin. In order to use TRMM satellite data for discharge measurement, its accuracy is determined by statistically comparing it with in situ gauged data on daily and monthly bases. The daily R 2 value (0.42) is significantly lower than monthly R 2 value (0.82), probably due to the time of summation of TRMM 3-hourly precipitation data into daily estimates. Daily TRMM data from 2003 to 2012 was used as input forcing in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model along with other input parameters. The calibration and validation results of SWAT model give R 2 = 0.72 and 0.73 and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency = 0.69 and 0.65, respectively. Daily and monthly comparison graphs are generated on the basis of model discharge output and observed data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geographical Information Systems, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Syed Muhammad Zubair Younis & Ahmad Ammar

  2. Multidisciplinary Studies Department, National University of Medical Sciences, Mall Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Majid

Authors
  1. Syed Muhammad Zubair Younis
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  2. Muhammad Majid
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  3. Ahmad Ammar
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Correspondence to Syed Muhammad Zubair Younis.

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Younis, S.M.Z., Majid, M. & Ammar, A. Satellite-based rainfall estimation and discharge measurement of Middle Indus River, Pakistan. Arab J Geosci 10, 404 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3192-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3192-9

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