Use of data assimilation products for water resources management

There are a number of water resources management capabilities that have been developed and implemented by US and other water agencies. These are in the form of Decision Support Tools (DSTs) that are used for water resources planning and management. The usefulness of these DSTs is not limited to the region where they were developed and validated; however, the one factor preventing the adaptation of these systems commonly used in the U.S. is the lack of sufficient data to drive them. These DSTs are available for use almost anywhere in the world if these data problems can be overcome. Satellite measured hydrological variables and remote sensing science products have the potential to overcome these data problems and provide water management data for a region with little or no hydrometerological data.