Satellite Gravimetry for the Retrieval of Hydrological Variables
A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 918
Special Issue Editors
Interests: satellite altimetry; remote sensing data assimilation; forest and agricultural biomass; groundwater; satellite gravimetry; geomatics and smart agriculture; soil moisture; active and passive microwave; remote sensing; essential climate variables
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: improve the estimation and spatial resolution of TWS and related groundwater storage changes (GWS) using the twin satellite systems of gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) and its successor GRACE follow-on (GRACE-FO) data
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Satellite gravimetry has become a powerful tool for monitoring large-scale variations in the Earth’s hydrological system. Missions such as GRACE and GRACE-FO provide unique observations of mass change, enabling the retrieval of key hydrological variables, including groundwater storage, surface water, soil moisture, snow water equivalent, canopy water content, total water storage, etc. With the next-generation GRACE-C mission scheduled for launch in 2028, even-higher-precision observations of hydrological variations will soon be possible, opening new opportunities for research and applications.
The objective of this Special Issue, “Satellite Gravimetry for the Retrieval of Hydrological Variables,” is to bring together cutting-edge research that advances the retrieval, interpretation, and application of gravimetry-based hydrological variables. We aim to highlight methodological innovations in signal processing, downscaling, data assimilation, uncertainty quantification, and multi-sensor fusion, as well as original applied studies demonstrating the value of gravimetry for hydrology, water resources, and climate science.
We invite contributions that explore the full potential of satellite gravimetry in retrieving hydrological variables such as groundwater storage, snow water equivalent, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, terrestrial water storage anomalies, and related components. Studies combining gravimetry with auxiliary data or models (e.g., land surface models, GNSS, altimetry, optical, interferometry or microwave remote sensing) are welcome. Advanced applications addressing water scarcity, drought monitoring, flood analysis, cryosphere changes, and sustainable water management under changing climate conditions are fully encouraged.
Through this Special Issue, we aim to expand interdisciplinary collaborations between hydrologists, geodesists, remote sensing experts, climate scientists, and modelers. The collection will serve as a platform to advance gravimetry-based hydrology, improve retrieval accuracy, and support the development of innovative solutions for global and regional water challenges.
Prof. Dr. Kalifa Goïta
Dr. Farzam Fatolazadeh
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- satellite gravimetry
- GRACE/GRACE-FO
- terrestrial water storage
- groundwater monitoring
- hydrological variables
- hydrological models
- water resources
- remote sensing
- climate and hydrology
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