Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin
Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is a critical variable in the global hydrological cycle. The TWS estimates derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) allow us to better understand water exchanges between the atmosphere, land surface, sea, and glaciers. However, missing historic...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4831 |
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| author | Senlin Tang Hong Wang Yao Feng Qinghua Liu Tingting Wang Wenbin Liu Fubao Sun |
| author_facet | Senlin Tang Hong Wang Yao Feng Qinghua Liu Tingting Wang Wenbin Liu Fubao Sun |
| author_sort | Senlin Tang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is a critical variable in the global hydrological cycle. The TWS estimates derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) allow us to better understand water exchanges between the atmosphere, land surface, sea, and glaciers. However, missing historical (pre-2002) GRACE data limit their further application. In this study, we developed a random forest (RF) model to reconstruct the monthly terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) time series using Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) and Climatic Research Unit (CRU) data for the Lancang-Mekong River basin. The results show that the RF-built TWSA time series agrees well with the GRACE TWSA time series for 2003–2014, showing that correlation coefficients (R) of 0.97 and 0.90 at the basin and grid scales, respectively, which demonstrates the reliability of the RF model. Furthermore, this method is used to reconstruct the historical TWSA time series for 1980–2002. Moreover, the discharge can be obtained by subtracting the evapotranspiration (ET) and RF-built terrestrial water storage change (TWSC) from the precipitation. The comparison between the discharge calculated from the water balance method and the observed discharge showed significant consistency, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 for 2003–2014 but a slightly lower correlation coefficient (0.86) for 1980–2002. The methods and findings in this study can provide an effective means of reconstructing the TWSA and discharge time series in basins with sparse hydrological data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:46:24Z |
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| id | doaj.art-6460516488e44f508ec29b40e7cda99a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:46:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6460516488e44f508ec29b40e7cda99a2023-11-23T02:57:02ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-11-011323483110.3390/rs13234831Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River BasinSenlin Tang0Hong Wang1Yao Feng2Qinghua Liu3Tingting Wang4Wenbin Liu5Fubao Sun6Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaInstitute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaKey Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaTerrestrial water storage (TWS) is a critical variable in the global hydrological cycle. The TWS estimates derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) allow us to better understand water exchanges between the atmosphere, land surface, sea, and glaciers. However, missing historical (pre-2002) GRACE data limit their further application. In this study, we developed a random forest (RF) model to reconstruct the monthly terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) time series using Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) and Climatic Research Unit (CRU) data for the Lancang-Mekong River basin. The results show that the RF-built TWSA time series agrees well with the GRACE TWSA time series for 2003–2014, showing that correlation coefficients (R) of 0.97 and 0.90 at the basin and grid scales, respectively, which demonstrates the reliability of the RF model. Furthermore, this method is used to reconstruct the historical TWSA time series for 1980–2002. Moreover, the discharge can be obtained by subtracting the evapotranspiration (ET) and RF-built terrestrial water storage change (TWSC) from the precipitation. The comparison between the discharge calculated from the water balance method and the observed discharge showed significant consistency, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 for 2003–2014 but a slightly lower correlation coefficient (0.86) for 1980–2002. The methods and findings in this study can provide an effective means of reconstructing the TWSA and discharge time series in basins with sparse hydrological data.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4831Lancang-Mekong River basinrandom forestterrestrial water storagewater balancedischarge |
| spellingShingle | Senlin Tang Hong Wang Yao Feng Qinghua Liu Tingting Wang Wenbin Liu Fubao Sun Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin Remote Sensing Lancang-Mekong River basin random forest terrestrial water storage water balance discharge |
| title | Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin |
| title_full | Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin |
| title_fullStr | Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin |
| title_short | Random Forest-Based Reconstruction and Application of the GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin |
| title_sort | random forest based reconstruction and application of the grace terrestrial water storage estimates for the lancang mekong river basin |
| topic | Lancang-Mekong River basin random forest terrestrial water storage water balance discharge |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4831 |
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