Satellite-based global-ocean mass balance estimates of interannual variability and emerging trends in continental freshwater discharge.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater discharge from the continents is a key component of Earth's water cycle that sustains human life and ecosystem health. Surprisingly, owing to a number of socioeconomic and political obstacles, a comprehensive global river discharge observing system does not yet exist. Here we use 13 years (1994-2006) of satellite precipitation, evaporation, and sea level data in an ocean mass balance to estimate freshwater discharge into the global ocean. Results indicate that global freshwater discharge averaged 36,055 km(3)/y for the study period while exhibiting significant interannual variability driven primarily by El Niño Southern Oscillation cycles. The method described here can ultimately be used to estimate long-term global discharge trends as the records of sea level rise and ocean tem

SUBMITTER: Syed TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2964215 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature