Calibration of FEST-EWB hydrological model using remote sensing data in a climate transition region in Brazil

The association of hydrological models with remote sensing data allows the estimation of parameters that cannot be easily measured in situ, especially in regions with poor monitoring networks. In this paper, a distributed hydrological energy water balance model (FEST-EWB) was calibrated and validated in a basin located in a climate transition zone between a semi-arid region and the humid Atlantic Forest, in Brazil. Land surface temperature (LST) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used to calibrate the model, that solves the system of energy and mass balance equations as a function of the representative equilibrium temperature. For validation, soil moisture and LST data collected in situ were used. The model presented good performance for the simulation of the variables studied in the basin, even with reduced availability of MODIS data due to cloud coverage, allowing the use of FEST-EWB in areas with these characteristics, which are common in many regions of the world.

Automated summary

The study calibrated and validated a distributed hydrological energy water balance model (FEST-EWB) in a basin located in a climate transition zone in Brazil by combining remote sensing data with hydrological models. The model was calibrated using land surface temperature (LST) data from MODIS and validated using soil moisture and LST data collected in situ. Despite reduced availability of MODIS data due to cloud coverage, the model showed good performance in simulating the studied variables in the basin, making it suitable for use in similar regions around the world.