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Title: Identifying ephemeral and perennial stream reaches using apparent thermal inertia for an ungauged basin: The Rio Salado, Central New Mexico

Author
item Beeson, Peter
item MILLER, DOUGLAS - Pennsylvania State University
item DUFFY, CHRISTOPHER - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Geocarto International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2010
Publication Date: 5/18/2011
Citation: Beeson, P.C., Miller, D.A., Duffy, C.J. 2011. Identifying ephemeral and perennial stream reaches using apparent thermal inertia for an ungauged basin: The Rio Salado, Central New Mexico. Geocarto International. 26(3):183-194.

Interpretive Summary: This study uses satellites to observe when a stream is wet or dry. The ability to see this difference remotely helps calibrate a computer simulation when all other data is not available. The resulting computer simulation can supply time series data on most hydrologic processes (i.e. stream flow, groundwater levels and soil moisture) in all locations in the watershed with some degree of confidence.

Technical Abstract: Night and day temperature images from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) remote sensing images are used to identify ephemeral and perennial stream reaches for use in the calibration of an integrated hydrologic model of an ungauged basin. The concept is based on apparent thermal inertia (ATI=1-albedo/temp day- temp night). These calculations help both the conceptual model and the calibration for the hydrologic model by indicating where there are thin alluvium and shallow groundwater. This area is on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, a Long-Term Ecological Research project that ASTER has included in its regular duty cycle. There are over 360 ASTER scenes in 8 years; however, only 10 night/day couples suitable for ATI. The results correlate to the soil moisture recorded at two locations near the channel (R2 of 0.88). The relationship between soil moisture and surrounding materials allows for differentiation of the perennial and ephemeral reaches.