Estimating Monthly River Discharges from GRACE/GRACE-FO Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies

Abstract

Simulating river discharge is a complex convolution depending on precipitation, runoff generation and transformation, and network attenuation. Terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its follow-on mission can be used to estimate monthly river discharge (Q). Monthly discharges for the period April 2002–January 2022 are estimated at 2870 U.S. Geological Survey gauge locations (draining 1K to 3M km2) throughout the continental U.S. (CONUS) using two-parameter exponential relationships between TWSA and Q. Roughly 70% of the study sites have a model performance exceeding the expected performance of other satellite-derived discharge products. The results show how the two model parameters vary based on hydrologic characteristics (annual precipitation and range in TWSA) and that model performance can be affected by snow accumulation/melt, water regulation (dams/reservoirs) or GRACE signal leakage. The generally favorable model performance and our understanding of variability in model applicability and associated parameters suggest that this concept can be expanded to other regions and ungauged locations.