Globally, consistent hydrological records remain limited, particularly in remote and data-sparse regions. These gaps challenge our ability to monitor, quantify, and understand one of Earth’s most critical resources—freshwater. Remote sensing provides transformative solutions to bridge these data gaps, enabling us to better track and manage the terrestrial water cycle.
Over the past few decades, a diverse array of sensors has been developed to observe key hydrological components, including precipitation, soil moisture, evaporation, atmospheric humidity, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater. Increasingly, efforts are also targeting water quality monitoring.
The Remote Sensing Technical Committee is dedicated to advancing the application of remote sensing in hydrology to address pressing scientific and societal challenges. By uniting experts in remote sensing, hydrology, water resources, and climate science, we aim to tackle pivotal questions such as:
- What are the spatiotemporal variations and long-term trends of key water cycle components across scales?
- How can remote sensing observations improve hydrological, Earth system, and data-driven modeling capabilities?
- How can advanced remote sensing techniques enhance the monitoring of hydrological extremes like droughts and floods?
- How can current and future satellite missions support water resource management and decision-making processes?
Our committee fosters collaboration and innovation to advance hydrological sciences and improve the global understanding and management of water resources.