River discharge monitoring using remote-sensing and hydrological modeling : the case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia
- Author
- Mengesha Tesfaw, Kristine Walraevens (UGent) , Thomas Hermans (UGent) , Fenta Nigate, Mulatu Kassa, Kasye Shitu and Mekete Dessie
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- Reliable discharge data remain scarce in arid and semi-arid basins, limiting water balance assessments and management. Although remote sensing indices and large-scale hydrological models have been applied, their suitability for small, data-scarce catchments such as the Golina River (Danakil Basin, Ethiopia) has not been systematically evaluated. This study directly compares the multiple pixel ratio (MPR) approach, which links Landsat 8 near-infrared reflectance to observed discharge with Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) reanalysis products. Using 251 Landsat scenes (2013-2024), we calibrated discharge estimates at different channel lengths and widths near the Addis-Alem station with in situ data (2022-2024). Results show that MPR, especially when applied close to the gauging station, outperforms GloFAS in capturing local discharge variability. This demonstrates a transferable satellite-based methodology for ungauged rivers, offering a robust alternative for monitoring discharge in data-scarce basins.
- Keywords
- ungauged river, remote sensing, GloFAS, Golina River, streamflow estimation, Ethiopia, ALTIMETRY DATA, SATELLITE ALTIMETRY, CALIBRATION, GLOFAS, MODIS, FLOW
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01KFX5Z354CXTM0PMNQJMWJ18N
- MLA
- Tesfaw, Mengesha, et al. “River Discharge Monitoring Using Remote-Sensing and Hydrological Modeling : The Case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia.” HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL, vol. 71, no. 3, 2026, pp. 516–28, doi:10.1080/02626667.2025.2596273.
- APA
- Tesfaw, M., Walraevens, K., Hermans, T., Nigate, F., Kassa, M., Shitu, K., & Dessie, M. (2026). River discharge monitoring using remote-sensing and hydrological modeling : the case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia. HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL, 71(3), 516–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2025.2596273
- Chicago author-date
- Tesfaw, Mengesha, Kristine Walraevens, Thomas Hermans, Fenta Nigate, Mulatu Kassa, Kasye Shitu, and Mekete Dessie. 2026. “River Discharge Monitoring Using Remote-Sensing and Hydrological Modeling : The Case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia.” HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL 71 (3): 516–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2025.2596273.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Tesfaw, Mengesha, Kristine Walraevens, Thomas Hermans, Fenta Nigate, Mulatu Kassa, Kasye Shitu, and Mekete Dessie. 2026. “River Discharge Monitoring Using Remote-Sensing and Hydrological Modeling : The Case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia.” HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL 71 (3): 516–528. doi:10.1080/02626667.2025.2596273.
- Vancouver
- 1.Tesfaw M, Walraevens K, Hermans T, Nigate F, Kassa M, Shitu K, et al. River discharge monitoring using remote-sensing and hydrological modeling : the case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia. HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL. 2026;71(3):516–28.
- IEEE
- [1]M. Tesfaw et al., “River discharge monitoring using remote-sensing and hydrological modeling : the case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia,” HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 516–528, 2026.
@article{01KFX5Z354CXTM0PMNQJMWJ18N,
abstract = {{Reliable discharge data remain scarce in arid and semi-arid basins, limiting water balance assessments and management. Although remote sensing indices and large-scale hydrological models have been applied, their suitability for small, data-scarce catchments such as the Golina River (Danakil Basin, Ethiopia) has not been systematically evaluated. This study directly compares the multiple pixel ratio (MPR) approach, which links Landsat 8 near-infrared reflectance to observed discharge with Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) reanalysis products. Using 251 Landsat scenes (2013-2024), we calibrated discharge estimates at different channel lengths and widths near the Addis-Alem station with in situ data (2022-2024). Results show that MPR, especially when applied close to the gauging station, outperforms GloFAS in capturing local discharge variability. This demonstrates a transferable satellite-based methodology for ungauged rivers, offering a robust alternative for monitoring discharge in data-scarce basins.}},
author = {{Tesfaw, Mengesha and Walraevens, Kristine and Hermans, Thomas and Nigate, Fenta and Kassa, Mulatu and Shitu, Kasye and Dessie, Mekete}},
issn = {{0262-6667}},
journal = {{HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL}},
keywords = {{ungauged river,remote sensing,GloFAS,Golina River,streamflow estimation,Ethiopia,ALTIMETRY DATA,SATELLITE ALTIMETRY,CALIBRATION,GLOFAS,MODIS,FLOW}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{516--528}},
title = {{River discharge monitoring using remote-sensing and hydrological modeling : the case of Golina River, Danakil Basin, Ethiopia}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2025.2596273}},
volume = {{71}},
year = {{2026}},
}
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