N 7 6 - 16562AN OVERVIEW OF THE APPLICATIONS SYSTEMS VERIFICATION TESTON SNOWCOVER MAPPING

A. Rango, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

ABSTRACT

The capability of the LANDSAT and NOAA satellites to ac-curately measure snowcovered area on various size water-sheds has been demonstrated by a number of Investigators.Additionally, recent research has shown a highly significantstatistical relationship between satellite-derived snowcoveredarea at the beginning of the snowmelt period and seasonal run-off. The decision was made, therefore, to test the results ofseveral satellite snowcovered area studies in an ApplicationsSystems Verification Test (ASVT) Program where quasi-operational evaluations of total technical capability are per-formed. The objective of these ASVT's is to provide all theinformation necessary for a potential user to make effectivedecisions concerning the implementation of the new remotesensing technology in an operational applications system.The ongoing Operational Applications of Satellite SnowcoverObservations (OASSO) Project became part of the ASVT Pro-gram in July 1975, and is described in this paper. In co-operation with various operational water management agenciesin Arizona, California, Colorado, and Oregon, the OASSOProject is scheduled for completion in September 1978.

INTRODUCTION

The capability of the LANDSAT and NOAA satellites to accuratelymeasure snowcovered area on various size watersheds on a repetitivebasis has been demonstrated in several research projects sponsored byNASA, NOAA, and other agencies. Other research (Leaf, 1971 andRango, Salomonson, and Foster, 1975) has provided an indication thatsnowcovered area, provided either by aerial or satellite surveys, can beemployed as an additional parameter in the prediction of snowmeIt-derivedrunoff. Because of positive research results in both snow mapping andrunoff correlations, the decision was made to operationally test the useof remotely sensed snowcovered area for improving snowmelt runoff fore-casts in an Applications Systems Verification Test (ASVT) Program wherequasi-operational evaluations of total technical capability are performed.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760009474 2018-05-16T23:51:28+00:00Z

NASA ASVT's result from exploratory investigations in the researchprogram that have shown promising conclusions. Asa result, when anASVT is undertaken, most necessary supporting research has alreadybeen completed. An ASVT is an integrated test of the capability of a re-mote sensing based system to accomplish a specific applications objectiveon an operational basis. To accomplish this, ASVT's directly involve theuser community, provide a user oriented assessment of the system andprovide in summary form the information necessary for a potential userto make effective decisions concerning the implementation of the technol-ogy in an operational framework. Mandatory products from an ASVT area documented methodology suitable for widespread distribution, a compre-hensive user evaluation of the systems accuracy and reliability, and acomplete cost-benefit relationship study.

The Operational Applications of Satellite Snowcover Observations(OASSO) project was initiated in July 1974 and formally became a part ofthe NASA ASVT Program in July 1975. Through December 1975, existingsatellite data collected since 1973 will be analyzed. It is planned thatanalysis of real time satellite data will begin during the 1976 snowmeltseason. Being conducted in cooperation with nine operational water man-agement agencies in the Western United States, the OASSO project isscheduled for completion in 1978.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The OASSO project has the following general objectives.

1. Map snowlines, areal snowcover, and associated changes insnowcover using satellite data for the 1973, 1974 and 1975 snowseasons in four separate Western U.S. study areas in order toevaluate the usefulness of the data had they been available innear real-time.

2. Map snowcover changes through FY 78 in each of the studyareas in a near real-time mode (data to user S 72 hours) sothat the data base can be extended to a total of at least fiveyears.

3. Compare and evaluate satellite-derived snow mapping productswith reference to products from conventionally-derived snowdata.

4. Develop or modify methods in an operational framework over thestudy period that will allow incorporation of satellite derivedsnowpack observations into the prediction of snowmelt-derivedstreamflow for specific areas.

5. Produce a documented methodology and cost/benefit analysissufficient for user organizations to make Go/No Go decisionsconcerning the use of this satellite-assisted snowmelt runoffmethodology in their operational responsibilities.

PROJECT ORGANIZATION

Day to day management of the OASSO project is conducted at NASA'sGoddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in coordination with the Earth Re-sources Program Office and NASA/Headquarters. The satellite snow in-vestigations are carried out at four Western United States study centerslocated in Arizona, California, Colorado, and the Northwest as shown inFigure 1. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) isalso participating in OASSO by supplying operational NOAA satellite dataand supporting analysis work.

Each of the four study areas in the West have operational agencypersonnel working in cooperation with remote sensing specialists to adaptthe existing technology to water supply forecasting needs. Table 1 liststhe Arizona Snow ASVT organization and responsibilities and Figure 2locates the Arizona study watersheds. Similarly Tables 2, 3, and 4 listthe Snow ASVT organization and responsibilities for California, Colorado,and the Northwest respectively, while Figures 3, 4, and 5 locate the study

NASA/HEADQUARTERS

CODE E

EARTH RESOURCES PROGRAMOFFICE, NASA/JSC

SNOW ASVT PROJECT

MANAGEMENT, NASA/GSFC

ARIZONAASVT STUDY

CENTER

CALIFORNIAASVT STUDYCENTER

COLORADO ASVTSTUDYCENTER

NORTHWEST U.S.ASVT STUDYCENTER

Fig. 1—Snow ASVT project management structure

"Tf "

FLAGSTAFF

VERDE

Fig. 2—Arizona snow ASVT study watersheds

watersheds for the same areas. The organization and responsibilities inthe NOAA/NESS support study are shown in Table 5.

STUDY AREA ACTIVITIES

In Arizona LANDSAT and NOAA imagery, LANDSAT data collectionsystem relayed data, and aircraft flights are being used as a total systemfor improving short terni and seasonal forecasts to benefit Salt RiverProject operations. In particular the Arizona investigators are interested

Table 1

Arizona Snow ASVT Organization and Responsibilities

A. Project CoordinatorMr. Herbert H. SchumannUSGS, WRDPhoenix, Arizona

B. Operational Agency Cooperators

Mr. William Warskow,Watershed Specialist,Watershed DivisionMr. Ted Wilson, LeadEngineer, Water ResourceOperationsSalt River ProjectPhoenix, Arizona

C. Remote Sensing Specialist Mr. Herbert H. Schumann,USGS

D. Study Watersheds Salt RiverVerde River

E. Applications of Data

Reservoir Regulation (forpower, irrigation, watersupply, and flood control inorder of priority)

Short Duration RunoffForecasting

in substituting satellite snowcover measurements for many of their con-ventional low altitude aircraft surveys, and at the same time using satel-lite information to identify critical snowmelt situations where it would beadvantageous to fly an .aircraft mission.

One of the principal goals for all the study areas is to use satelliteinformation to reduce existing streamflow forecast error. In California,the Department of Water Resources is focusing on using the satellite datafor updating forecasts after April 1 through the end of the snowmelt sea-son. Procedural forecast errors would thus be treated rather than theearly season, weather-variability errors. Additionally, California isparticularly interested in using satellite snowcover data to obtain addi-tional snowpack knowledge from ever increasing restricted-access wild-erness areas and other remote regions.

In the attempt to reduce forecast errors, historical records arebeing analyzed and correlated to conventional watershed and snowpack

Table 2

California Snow ASVT Organization and Responsibilities

A. Project Coordinator

Mr. A. J. Brown, ChiefSnow Surveys BranchCalifornia Department ofWater ResourcesSacramento, California

B. Operational Agency Cooperators

Snow Surveys BranchCalifornia Department ofWater ResourcesSacramento, California

C. Remote Sensing SpecialistMr. Barry Brown,California Department ofWater Resources

D. Study Watersheds

Feather RiverUpper Sacramento RiverSan Joaquin RiverKings RiverKern RiverKaweah RiverTule River

E. Applications of Data

Supply various CaliforniaSnow Survey Cooperatorswith Seasonal RunoffForecasts.IrrigationPower GenerationFlood Control

measurements. It is hoped that with five years of satellite data as a base,meaningful snowcovered area indices could be used in normal regressionapproaches to streamflow forecasting. Additionally, various numericalwatershed models are being employed with the snowcovered area estimatesin Colorado and the Northwest to attempt to improve shorter duration run-off forecasts. The Streamflow Simulation and Reservoir Regulation(SSARR) model used by the Columbia River Forecasting Service, as anexample, requires the input of snowcovered area for generating dailystreamflows. Satellite snowcover data will be input to the SSARR modelfor studying possible improvements in streamflow forecasts for past andcurrent years resulting from use of actual data as opposed to model

6

Fig. 3—California snow ASVT study watersheds

calculated snowcovered area. The utility of the remotely sensed data'forthe various models being tested will be assessed and documented.

At the end of the OASSO project the user agencies will evaluate theutility of the satellite data in light of their own unique requirements andcomment upon possible continuing application of the data. Recommenda-tions will also be made for changes and improvements necessary to makethe data more applicable to operational functions. The required cost-benefit study will produce results regarding the worth of using satellite

Table 3

Colorado Snow ASVT Organization and Responsibilities

A. Project Coordinator

Mr. Jack WashichekSnow Survey SupervisorSoil Conservation ServiceDenver, Colorado

B. Operational Agency Cooperators

Mr. Jack WashichekSoil Conservation ServiceDr. Jerry Danielson,Deputy - State EngineerColorado Division ofWater ResourcesMr. Bob HansenU. S. Bureau ofReclamation

C. Remote Sensing Specialist Mr. Bob Hansen, USER

D. Study Watersheds

Rio Grande River AboveDel NorteConejos River Above MogoteCulebra River Above SanLuisSan Juan River AboveCarracusArkansas River AboveSalida

£. Applications of Data

Better Flow Forecasts on theRio Grande River so that theState of Colorado can BetterRegulate Reservoir Releasesof Water to the State of NewMexico as Required by Law.Reservoir Regulation forIrrigation and Power .Requirements.

snowcover data, for operational purposes based upon the results obtainedin each of the four study centers. Documentation and dissemination of theresults from the OASSO project for informational purposes will includewidespread distribution of handbooks, workshop proceedings volumes,final reports, and scientific papers.

8

Table 4

Northwest Snow ASVT Organization and Responsibilities

A. Project Coordinator

B. Operational Agency Cooperators

C. Remote Sensing Specialist

D. Study Watersheds

E . Applications of Data

Mr. Fred A. Limpert,HeadHydrology SectionBonneville PowerAdministratorPortland, Oregon

Columbia River Forecast-ing Service, (CRFS)Portland, OregonCRFS is composed of:

1) Bonneville PowerAdministration

2) U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers

3) NOAA/National WeatherService

Dr. Mark Meier, USGS

Boise RiverNorth Santiam RiverSnake RiverKootenai RiverClearwater RiverFlathead River

Power GenerationFlood Control

SUMMARY

As a result of promising conclusions derived in several remotesensing snowcover studies, an Application Systems Verification Test(ASVT) has been initiated in the Western United States to evaluate underoperational conditions the overall utility of satellite snowcover observa-tions for streamflow forecasts. A total of six federal agencies and threestate agencies are cooperating in four regions centered in Arizona, Cali-fornia, Colorado, and Oregon. These agencies are employing earth re-sources satellite data, data collection system relayed information, air-craft flights, conventional ground information, and regression and

9

Table 5

NOAA/NESS Snow ASVT Support Study

A. Study Coordinator

Mr. Russ Koffler, ChiefEnvironmental ProductsGroup NOAA/NESSWashington, B.C.

B. Operational Agency Cooperator

Mr. Jack Bottoms,Manager NOAA/NESSSatellite Field ServicesStationRedwood City, California

C. Remote Sensing Specialists

Mr. Don WeisnetDr. David McGinnisNOAA/NESSEnvironmental SciencesGroupMr. Stan SchneiderNOAA/NESSEnvironmental ProductsGroup

Q. Operational Services

Support in the Form of Im-agery for Each of the ASVTStudy Watersheds from theSatellite Field Services Sta-tion and Supplemental Snow-cover Analyses for Severalother Rivers in the West.Snowcover Values are sentby Teletype to NWS RiverForecast Centers.

E. Research Study

Investigate Effect of Vegeta-tion, Tree Lines, and Moun-tainous Terrain on Snow Map-ping. Digital Enhancementsof Snow/Terrain Interfaces.Examination of Sources ofSnow Mapping Errors.

10

-Tf

B COLORADO SPRINGS

ARKANSAS

PUEBLO

Fig. 4—Colorado snow ASVT study watersheds

KOOTENMB R I T I S HC O L U M B I A

W A S H I N G T O N

JH. SANTIAM

O R E G O N

A L B E R T A

FUTHUD

BOISE

M O N T A N A

T V | W Y O M I N G

UPPERSNAKE

Fig. 5—Northwest snow ASVT study watersheds

11

numerical streamflow prediction models in an attempt to quantitativelydetermine the usefulness of the timely remotely sensed information. Atthe conclusion of the ASVT, handbooks, workshop proceedings, final re-ports, and scientific papers produced in conjunction with this project willbe disseminated so that all interested parties may evaluate the overallresults and assessments of the application of satellite snowcoverobservations.

REFERENCES

Leaf, C. L., Areal snow cover and disposition of snowmelt runoff inCentral Colorado, USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-66,19 pp., Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Ex-periment Station, Fort Collins, Colorado, 1971.

Rango, A., V. V. Salomonson, and J. L. Foster, Seasonal StreamflowEstimation Employing Satellite Snowcover Observations, DocumentX-913-75-26, 27 pp., National Aeronautics and Space Administra-tion, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1975.

12

T r4' •