Integrating Gravimetry Data With Thermal Infra‐Red Data From Satellites to Improve Efficiency of Operational Irrigation Advisory in South Asia

The rapid decline of groundwater resources in South Asia due to excessive irrigation during dry season requires awareness optimal on-field water requirements. Such information is currently provided on farmer cellphones through an operational Irrigation Advisory System (IAS). To minimize the cost sending such advisory texts farmers while maximizing impact IAS sustainability, we integrated Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data with Landsat Thermal Infrared (TIR) Imagery target regions greater need service. We demonstrated concept improved over eight districts Ganges Indus basins. Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) was used monitor consumption (evapotranspiration-ET) cropped areas using TIR at plot-scale spatial resolution. Comparison SEBAL ET crop demand from Penman-Monteith (FAO56) technique quantified extent overirrigation plot scale a tangible pathway microtarget service only largest use footprint, thereby improving further. Our results suggested that integrates GRACE average can save about 85% (80 million m3) per Northern India 87% (or 150 year Eastern Pakistan.