Capability of SRTM C- and X-Band DEM Data to Measure Water Elevations in Ohio and the Amazon
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Date
2007-06
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
I analyze Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) water surface elevation data to
assess the capacity of interferometric radar for future surface water missions. Elevations from
three Ohio reservoirs and several Amazon floodplain lakes have standard deviations, interpreted
as errors, that are smaller in C-band compared to X-band and are smaller in Ohio than in the
Amazon. These trends are also evident when comparing water surface elevations from the
Muskingum River in Ohio with those of the Amazon River. Differences are attributed to
increased averaging in C-band compared to X-band, greater sensitivity to surface water motion
in X-band, and generally larger off-nadir look angles in X-band. Absolute water surface
elevations are greater in the C-band DEM for much of the two study areas and yield expected
slope values. Height and slope differences are attributed to differing usage of geoids and
ellipsoids. These SRTM measurements suggest the great possibility for space-based, laterallyspatial
(2D) measurements of water surface elevations.
Description
Keywords
hydrology, remote sensing, SRTM, Ohio
Citation
KIEL, B., D. ALSDORF, AND G. LEFAVOUR, 2006. Capability of SRTM C- and X-band DEM data to measure water elevations in Ohio and the Amazon. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, (SRTM Special Issue) 72 (3): 313-320.