Satellite Microwave remote sensing of contrasting surface water inundation changes within the Arctic-Boreal Region

Jennifer D. Watts; John S. Kimball; Lucas A. Jones; Ronny Schroeder; Kyle C. McDonald

doi:10.1016/j.rse.2012.09.003

Satellite Microwave remote sensing of contrasting surface water inundation changes within the Arctic-Boreal Region

Jennifer D. Watts, John S. Kimball, Lucas A. Jones, Ronny Schroeder, Kyle C. McDonald

Numeric Terradynamic Simulation Group

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Surface water inundation in the Arctic-Boreal region is dynamic and strongly influences land-atmosphere water, energy and carbon (CO ₂, CH ₄) fluxes, and potential feedbacks to climate change. Here we report on recent (2003-2010) surface inundation patterns across the Arctic-Boreal region (≥50°N) and within major permafrost (PF) zones detected using satellite passive microwave remote sensing retrievals of daily fractional open water (Fw) cover from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E). The AMSR-E Fw (25-km resolution) maps reflect strong microwave sensitivity to sub-grid scale open water variability and compare favorably (0.71≤R ²≤0.84) with alternative, static Fw maps derived from finer scale (30-m to 250-m resolution) Landsat, MODIS and SRTM radar (MOD44W) data. The AMSR-E retrievals show dynamic seasonal and annual variability in surface inundation that is unresolved in the static Fw maps. The AMSR-E Fw record also corresponds strongly (0.71≤R≤0.87) with regional wet/dry cycles inferred from basin discharge records. An AMSR-E algorithm sensitivity analysis shows a conservative estimate of Fw retrieval uncertainty (RMSE) within ±4.1% for effective resolution of regional inundation patterns and seasonal to annual variability. A regional trend analysis of the 8-year AMSR-E record shows no significant Arctic-Boreal region wide Fw trend for the period, and instead reveals contrasting inundation changes within different PF zones. Widespread Fw wetting is detected within continuous (92% of grid cells with significant trend; p<0.1) and discontinuous (82%) PF zones, while sporadic/isolated PF areas show widespread (71%) Fw drying trends. These results are consistent with previous studies showing evidence of contrasting regional inundation patterns linked to PF degradation and associated changes to surface hydrology under recent climate warming.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	223-236
Number of pages	14
Journal	Remote Sensing of Environment
Volume	127
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2012.09.003
State	Published - Dec 2012

Funding

This work was conducted at the University of Montana, at The City College of New York, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This work was supported under the NASA Terrestrial Ecology and Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) programs; the AMSR-E data were provided by the NASA data archive (DAAC) facility at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) using algorithms developed at the University of Montana. We also thank Dr. Peter Potapov at South Dakota State University for allowing us to use his land cover dataset.

Funders	Funder number
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Keywords

AMSR
Arctic
Climate change
Inundation
Landsat
MODIS
Permafrost

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.rse.2012.09.003

Cite this

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title = "Satellite Microwave remote sensing of contrasting surface water inundation changes within the Arctic-Boreal Region",

abstract = "Surface water inundation in the Arctic-Boreal region is dynamic and strongly influences land-atmosphere water, energy and carbon (CO 2, CH 4) fluxes, and potential feedbacks to climate change. Here we report on recent (2003-2010) surface inundation patterns across the Arctic-Boreal region (≥50°N) and within major permafrost (PF) zones detected using satellite passive microwave remote sensing retrievals of daily fractional open water (Fw) cover from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E). The AMSR-E Fw (25-km resolution) maps reflect strong microwave sensitivity to sub-grid scale open water variability and compare favorably (0.71≤R 2≤0.84) with alternative, static Fw maps derived from finer scale (30-m to 250-m resolution) Landsat, MODIS and SRTM radar (MOD44W) data. The AMSR-E retrievals show dynamic seasonal and annual variability in surface inundation that is unresolved in the static Fw maps. The AMSR-E Fw record also corresponds strongly (0.71≤R≤0.87) with regional wet/dry cycles inferred from basin discharge records. An AMSR-E algorithm sensitivity analysis shows a conservative estimate of Fw retrieval uncertainty (RMSE) within ±4.1% for effective resolution of regional inundation patterns and seasonal to annual variability. A regional trend analysis of the 8-year AMSR-E record shows no significant Arctic-Boreal region wide Fw trend for the period, and instead reveals contrasting inundation changes within different PF zones. Widespread Fw wetting is detected within continuous (92% of grid cells with significant trend; p<0.1) and discontinuous (82%) PF zones, while sporadic/isolated PF areas show widespread (71%) Fw drying trends. These results are consistent with previous studies showing evidence of contrasting regional inundation patterns linked to PF degradation and associated changes to surface hydrology under recent climate warming.",

keywords = "AMSR, Arctic, Climate change, Inundation, Landsat, MODIS, Permafrost",

author = "Watts, {Jennifer D.} and Kimball, {John S.} and Jones, {Lucas A.} and Ronny Schroeder and McDonald, {Kyle C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was conducted at the University of Montana, at The City College of New York, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This work was supported under the NASA Terrestrial Ecology and Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) programs; the AMSR-E data were provided by the NASA data archive (DAAC) facility at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) using algorithms developed at the University of Montana. We also thank Dr. Peter Potapov at South Dakota State University for allowing us to use his land cover dataset.",

year = "2012",

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doi = "10.1016/j.rse.2012.09.003",

language = "English",

volume = "127",

pages = "223--236",

journal = "Remote Sensing of Environment",

issn = "0034-4257",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

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AU - Watts, Jennifer D.

AU - Kimball, John S.

AU - Jones, Lucas A.

AU - Schroeder, Ronny

AU - McDonald, Kyle C.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was conducted at the University of Montana, at The City College of New York, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This work was supported under the NASA Terrestrial Ecology and Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) programs; the AMSR-E data were provided by the NASA data archive (DAAC) facility at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) using algorithms developed at the University of Montana. We also thank Dr. Peter Potapov at South Dakota State University for allowing us to use his land cover dataset.

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - Surface water inundation in the Arctic-Boreal region is dynamic and strongly influences land-atmosphere water, energy and carbon (CO 2, CH 4) fluxes, and potential feedbacks to climate change. Here we report on recent (2003-2010) surface inundation patterns across the Arctic-Boreal region (≥50°N) and within major permafrost (PF) zones detected using satellite passive microwave remote sensing retrievals of daily fractional open water (Fw) cover from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E). The AMSR-E Fw (25-km resolution) maps reflect strong microwave sensitivity to sub-grid scale open water variability and compare favorably (0.71≤R 2≤0.84) with alternative, static Fw maps derived from finer scale (30-m to 250-m resolution) Landsat, MODIS and SRTM radar (MOD44W) data. The AMSR-E retrievals show dynamic seasonal and annual variability in surface inundation that is unresolved in the static Fw maps. The AMSR-E Fw record also corresponds strongly (0.71≤R≤0.87) with regional wet/dry cycles inferred from basin discharge records. An AMSR-E algorithm sensitivity analysis shows a conservative estimate of Fw retrieval uncertainty (RMSE) within ±4.1% for effective resolution of regional inundation patterns and seasonal to annual variability. A regional trend analysis of the 8-year AMSR-E record shows no significant Arctic-Boreal region wide Fw trend for the period, and instead reveals contrasting inundation changes within different PF zones. Widespread Fw wetting is detected within continuous (92% of grid cells with significant trend; p<0.1) and discontinuous (82%) PF zones, while sporadic/isolated PF areas show widespread (71%) Fw drying trends. These results are consistent with previous studies showing evidence of contrasting regional inundation patterns linked to PF degradation and associated changes to surface hydrology under recent climate warming.

AB - Surface water inundation in the Arctic-Boreal region is dynamic and strongly influences land-atmosphere water, energy and carbon (CO 2, CH 4) fluxes, and potential feedbacks to climate change. Here we report on recent (2003-2010) surface inundation patterns across the Arctic-Boreal region (≥50°N) and within major permafrost (PF) zones detected using satellite passive microwave remote sensing retrievals of daily fractional open water (Fw) cover from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E). The AMSR-E Fw (25-km resolution) maps reflect strong microwave sensitivity to sub-grid scale open water variability and compare favorably (0.71≤R 2≤0.84) with alternative, static Fw maps derived from finer scale (30-m to 250-m resolution) Landsat, MODIS and SRTM radar (MOD44W) data. The AMSR-E retrievals show dynamic seasonal and annual variability in surface inundation that is unresolved in the static Fw maps. The AMSR-E Fw record also corresponds strongly (0.71≤R≤0.87) with regional wet/dry cycles inferred from basin discharge records. An AMSR-E algorithm sensitivity analysis shows a conservative estimate of Fw retrieval uncertainty (RMSE) within ±4.1% for effective resolution of regional inundation patterns and seasonal to annual variability. A regional trend analysis of the 8-year AMSR-E record shows no significant Arctic-Boreal region wide Fw trend for the period, and instead reveals contrasting inundation changes within different PF zones. Widespread Fw wetting is detected within continuous (92% of grid cells with significant trend; p<0.1) and discontinuous (82%) PF zones, while sporadic/isolated PF areas show widespread (71%) Fw drying trends. These results are consistent with previous studies showing evidence of contrasting regional inundation patterns linked to PF degradation and associated changes to surface hydrology under recent climate warming.

KW - AMSR

KW - Arctic

KW - Climate change

KW - Inundation

KW - Landsat

KW - MODIS

KW - Permafrost

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DO - 10.1016/j.rse.2012.09.003

M3 - Article

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JO - Remote Sensing of Environment

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ER -

Satellite Microwave remote sensing of contrasting surface water inundation changes within the Arctic-Boreal Region

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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