How is water resource studied using remote sensing?
Answers
Remote Sensing, coupled with Geographic Information System (GIS), is a powerful tool for monitoring of water quality and water pollution. Satellite imageries have been used successfully in determination of various water quality parameters like Total Suspended Solids, turbidity, chlorophyll content, colour, temperature etc. by using the Visible, Reflected Infrared and occasionally Thermal Infrared bands of the Electro Magnetic Spectrum.
Remote Sensing techniques have been used in sustainable management of water resources, whichinclude runoff and hydrological modeling, flood management, watershed management, drought management and management of Irrigation Command Areas. Satellite imageries obtained from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Linear Imaging and Self Scanning (LISS) and Wide Field Sensor (WiFS) have been used extensively by various workers for calculation of drainage basin area, drainage density, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Leaf Water Content Index (LWCI). Application of Remote Sensing in flood management,drought management and Irrigation Command Area management were demonstrated in India by a number of researchers from time to time.
Typical applications include mapping of active flood plains, long-range weather forecasting, estimation of crop acreage and crop production and preparation of “irrigability maps” through land use planning.