Estimation of global SCS curve numbers using satellite remote sensing and geospatial data

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS CN) method is an efficient and widely used method for determining the direct runoff (effective rainfall) from a storm event for flood disaster assessment (rainfall-runoff modelling). The CN can be estimated based on the area's hydrologic soil group (HSG), land use/ cover, and hydrologic condition. The two former factors are of greater importance in determining the CN value. This study reports an attempt to derive a global CN map. First, HSG was classified from digital soil maps. Second, CN was estimated as a function of HSG, land-cover classification, and hydrologic conditions according to USDA (1986) and NEH-4 (1997) standard lookup tables. Potential applications of this CN map may include real-time global flood assessment by incorporating an operational multisatellite precipitation estimation system (e.g.