@article{fdi:010084638,
  title = {{A} combined use of in situ and satellite-derived observations to characterize surface hydrology and its variability in the {C}ongo {R}iver basin},
  author = {{K}itambo, {B}. and {P}apa, {F}abrice and {P}aris, {A}. and {T}shimanga, {R}. {M}. and {C}almant, {S}t{\'e}phane and {F}leischmann, {A}. {S}. and {F}rappart, {F}. and {B}ecker, {M}. and {T}ourian, {M}. {J}. and {P}rigent, {C}. and {A}ndriambeloson, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {C}ongo {R}iver basin ({CRB}) is the second largest river system in the world, but its hydroclimatic characteristics remain relatively poorly known. {H}ere, we jointly analyse a large record of in situ and satellite-derived observations, including a long-term time series of surface water height ({SWH}) from radar altimetry (a total of 2311 virtual stations) and surface water extent ({SWE}) from a multi-satellite technique, to characterize the {CRB} surface hydrology and its variability. {F}irst, we show that {SWH} from altimetry multi-missions agrees well with in situ water stage at various locations, with the root mean square deviation varying from 10 cm (with {S}entinel-3{A}) to 75 cm (with {E}uropean {R}emote {S}ensing satellite-2). {SWE} variability from multi-satellite observations also shows a plausible behaviour over a similar to 25-year period when evaluated against in situ observations from the subbasin to basin scale. {B}oth datasets help to better characterize the large spatial and temporal variability in hydrological patterns across the basin, with {SWH} exhibiting an annual amplitude of more than 5 m in the northern subbasins, while the {C}ongo {R}iver main stream and {C}uvette {C}entrale tributaries vary in smaller proportions (1.5 to 4.5 m). {F}urthermore, {SWH} and {SWE} help illustrate the spatial distribution and different timings of the {CRB} annual flood dynamic and how each subbasin and tributary contribute to the hydrological regime at the outlet of the basin (the {B}razzaville/{K}inshasa station), including its peculiar bimodal pattern. {A}cross the basin, we estimate the time lag and water travel time to reach the {B}razzaville/{K}inshasa station to range from 0-1 month in its vicinity in downstream parts of the basin and up to 3 months in remote areas and small tributaries. {N}orthern subbasins and the central {C}ongo region contribute highly to the large peak in {D}ecember-{J}anuary, while the southern part of the basin supplies water to both hydrological peaks, in particular to the moderate one in {A}pril-{M}ay. {T}he results are supported using in situ observations at several locations in the basin. {O}ur results contribute to a better characterization of the hydrological variability in the {CRB} and represent an unprecedented source of information for hydrological modelling and to study hydrological processes over the region.},
  keywords = {{CONGO} ; {CENTRAFRIQUE} ; {ZAMBIE} ; {TANZANIE} ; {RWANDA} ; {BURUNDI} ; {CAMEROUN} ; {ANGOLA} ; {REPUBLIQUE} {DEMOCRATIQUE} {DU} {CONGO} ; {CONGO} {COURS} {D}'{EAU} ; {CONGO} {BASSIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ydrology and {E}arth {S}ystem {S}ciences},
  volume = {26},
  numero = {7},
  pages = {1857--1882},
  ISSN = {1027-5606},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.5194/hess-26-1857-2022},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084638},
}