High-resolution satellite products improve hydrological modeling in northern Italy

Abstract. Satellite-based Earth observations (EO) are an accurate and reliable data source for atmospheric environmental science. Their increasing spatial temporal resolutions, as well the seamless availability over ungauged regions, make them appealing hydrological modeling. This work shows recent advances in use of high-resolution satellite-based EO In a set six experiments, distributed model Continuum is up Po River basin (Italy) forced, turn, by satellite precipitation evaporation, while satellite-derived soil moisture (SM) snow depths ingested into structure through data-assimilation scheme. Further, estimates precipitation, river discharge used calibration, results compared with those based on ground observations. Despite high density conventional measurements strong human influence focus region, all products show potential operational applications, skillful throughout domain. evaporation marginally improve (by 2 % 4 %) mean Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) at 27 gauges, to baseline simulation (KGEmean= 0.51) forced high-quality data. Precipitation has largest impact output, though average poorer skills Interestingly, calibration heavily relying data, opposed provides reconstruction discharges, paving way fully satellite-driven applications.