Application of satellite imagery to hydrologic modeling snowmelt runoff in the southern Sierra Nevada
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Hall, R. L..
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Long-term snowcovered area data from aircraft and satellite observations have proven useful in reducing seasonal runoff forecast error on the Kern river watershed. Similar use of snowcovered area on the Kings river watershed produced results that were about equivalent to methods based solely on conventional data. Snowcovered area will be most effective in reducing forecast procedural error on watersheds with: (1) a substantial amount of area within a limited elevation range; (2) an erratic precipitation and/or snowpack accumulation pattern not strongly related to elevation; and (3) poor coverage by precipitation stations or snow courses restricting adequate indexing of water supply conditions. When satellite data acquisition and delivery problems are resolved, the derived snowcover information should provide a means for enhancing operational streamflow forecasts for areas that depend primarily on snowmelt for their water supply.
A description is given of major program objectives and experiment requirements established for ATS-6. The ability to slew across the earth's disk in less than 30 min was needed to support tightly scheduled communication operations involving different parts of the earth. Two major experiments were developed which involve direct satellite relay of educational color television programs to simple ground receivers. Details of spacecraft configuration are discussed along with aspects of spacecraft ground testing. The ATS-6 was successfully launched on schedule from Cape Canaveral on May 30, 1974, with the aid of a Titan IIIC. The in-orbit performance of the spacecraft communication subsystem has been excellent.