An Approach to Use Repeat MSS Imageries for Vedavati Catchment in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Of all the modern Remote Sensing Techniques, multi-spectral (MSS) imagery taken through satellites is proving to be a highly useful reconnaissance tool for earth resources evaluation studies. The synoptic view of the changes in the areal spread of surface water reservoirs, soil moisture zones etc., as provided by the repeat imageries is of particular significance to hydrologists. Though the repeat imageries were used to monitor flood effects, there does not seem to be much effort in using them for estimating the component of surface water change in the hydrological balance.

This paper illustrates an approach to estimate the changes in surface water storage in 7300 sq km of the Bhairavanithippa catchment (a part of the Vedavati River Basin) in parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The study indicates that the depression storage in a normal rainfall year may be around 95 MCM and in a drought year as low as 26 MCM. The Sources of error in these estimates can be lessened to a great extent by a Man-Machine interaction.