Integration of remotely sensed data with hydrological modelling of Mount Liban (Lebanon)

In Lebanon, due to the lack of in situ measurements, it is difficult to estimate the amount of water stored in this high altitude snow pack of Mount Liban, or to predict when it will be available. This is a case where remote sensing can help hydrological modelling. For example, snow water equivalent (SWE) information derived from RADARSAT-1 images could be used to regularly update model simulations of a dry snow cover. During the winter season of 200 1, this approach was tested. So far, the results obtained lead to the conclusion that the algorithm may be applied to that type of snow cover. However, one should be careful as the number of sites where observations have been taken is low. When melting begins, data from the VEGETATION sensor on SPOT-4 could be used to determine the lower limit of snow cover on clear days and to update the snow extent simulated by a hydrological model like HYDROTEL. This combination of remote sensing and modelling could be very useful in the Lebanese context, but it would require the addition of automatic and well instrumented weather stations.