Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-470
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-470
22 Jun 2022
 | 22 Jun 2022

Estimating spatiotemporally continuous snow water equivalent from intermittent satellite track observations using machine learning methods

Xiaoyu Ma, Dongyue Li, Yiwen Fang, Steven A. Margulis, and Dennis P. Lettenmaier

Abstract. Accurate remote sensing-based snow water equivalent (SWE) estimates have been elusive, particularly in mountain areas, however, there now appears to be some potential for direct satellite-based SWE observations along ground tracks that only cover a portion of a spatial domain (e.g., watershed). Fortunately, spatiotemporally continuous meteorological and surface variables could be leveraged to infer SWE in the gaps between satellite ground tracks. Here, we evaluate statistical and machine learning (ML) approaches to perform a track-to-area (TTA) transformation of synthetic SWE observations in California’s Upper Tuolumne River Watershed. We construct relationships between multiple meteorological and surface variables and synthetic SWE observations along observation tracks, and we then extend this relationship to unobserved areas between ground tracks to estimate SWE over the entire watershed. Domain-wide April 1st SWE inferred using two satellite tracks (~4.5 % basin coverage) resulted in percent error of basin-averaged SWE of 24.5 %, 4.5 %, and 6.3 % in an extreme dry year (WY2015), a normal year (WY2008) and an extraordinarily wet year (WY2017), respectively. Assuming a 10-day overpass interval, percent errors in basin-averaged SWE in both snow accumulation and snowmelt seasons were mostly less than 10 %. We employ feature sensitivity analysis to overcome the black-box nature of ML methods and increase the explainability of the ML results. Our feature sensitivity analysis shows that precipitation is the dominant variable controlling the TTA SWE estimation, followed by net longwave radiation. We find a modest increase in SWE estimation accuracy when more than two ground tracks are leveraged. Accuracy of Apr 1st SWE estimation is only modestly improved for track repeats more often than about 15 days.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Jan 2023
Estimating spatiotemporally continuous snow water equivalent from intermittent satellite observations: an evaluation using synthetic data
Xiaoyu Ma, Dongyue Li, Yiwen Fang, Steven A. Margulis, and Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 21–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-21-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-21-2023, 2023
Short summary

Xiaoyu Ma et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-470', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Xiaoyu Ma, 04 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-470', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Xiaoyu Ma, 04 Sep 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-470', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Xiaoyu Ma, 04 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-470', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Xiaoyu Ma, 04 Sep 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (23 Sep 2022) by Jorge Isidoro
AR by Xiaoyu Ma on behalf of the Authors (22 Oct 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (20 Nov 2022) by Jorge Isidoro
ED: Publish as is (22 Nov 2022) by Louise Slater (Executive editor)
AR by Xiaoyu Ma on behalf of the Authors (28 Nov 2022)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Jan 2023
Estimating spatiotemporally continuous snow water equivalent from intermittent satellite observations: an evaluation using synthetic data
Xiaoyu Ma, Dongyue Li, Yiwen Fang, Steven A. Margulis, and Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 21–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-21-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-21-2023, 2023
Short summary

Xiaoyu Ma et al.

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Latest update: 07 Oct 2023
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
We explore satellite retrievals of snow water equivalent (SWE) along hypothetical ground tracks that would allow estimation of SWE over an entire watershed. Retrieval of SWE from satellites has proved elusive, but there are now technological options that do so along essentially one-dimensional tracks. We use machine learning algorithms as the basis for a track to area (TTA) transformation and show that at least one is robust enough to estimate domain-wide SWE with high accuracy.