@article{fdi:010054737,
  title = {{S}atellite altimeter-derived monthly discharge of the {G}anga-{B}rahmaputra {R}iver and its seasonal to interannual variations from 1993 to 2008},
  author = {{P}apa, {F}abrice and {D}urand, {F}abien and {R}ossow, {W}. {B}. and {R}ahman, {A}. and {B}ala, {S}. {K}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {G}anga-{B}rahmaputra accounts for similar to 25% of the total amount of freshwater received by the {B}ay of {B}engal. {U}sing daily in situ river discharge data along with altimetry-derived river heights, the present study aims to produce a monthly data set of altimetry-derived {G}anga-{B}rahmaputra {R}iver discharge at the river mouths for 1993-2008. {F}irst, we estimate the standard error of {ENVISAT}-derived water levels over the {G}anga to be 0.26 m, much smaller than the range of variability of similar to 7 m, and consistent with the accuracy of altimeter measurements over large rivers. {W}e then establish rating curves between altimetry-derived water levels and in situ river discharges and show that {TOPEX}-{P}oseidon, {ERS}-2, and {ENVISAT} data can successfully be used to infer {G}anga and {B}rahmaputra discharge. {T}he mean error on the estimated daily discharge derived from altimetry ranges from similar to 15% (similar to 4700 m(3)/s) using {TOPEX}-{P}oseidon over the {B}rahmaputra to similar to 36% (similar to 9000 m(3)/s) using {ERS}-2 over the {G}anga. {C}ombined {G}anga-{B}rahmaputra monthly discharges for 1993-2008 are presented, showing a mean error of similar to 17% (similar to 2700 m(3)/s), within the range (15%-20%) of acceptable accuracy for discharge measurements. {D}uring 2004-2008, we assess the variability of the estimate against precipitation and river heights records. {F}inally, we present a basic approach to infer {G}anga-{B}rahmaputra monthly discharge at the river mouths. {T}he upscaled discharge exhibits a marked interannual variability with a standard deviation in excess of similar to 12,500 m(3)/s, much larger than the data set uncertainty. {T}his new data set represents an unprecedented source of information to quantify continental freshwater forcing flux into {I}ndian {O}cean circulation models.},
  keywords = {{INDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch. {O}ceans},
  volume = {115},
  numero = {},
  pages = {{C}12013},
  ISSN = {0148-0227},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1029/2009jc006075},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010054737},
}