Institute of Hydrology
Topic
Validation of new satellite-derived soil moisture data in mountains and their application in hydrological modelling
PhD. program
Water Resources Engineering
Year of admission
2026
Name of the supervisor
Ing. et Ing. Patrik Sleziak, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Civil Engineering STU
Annotation
At present, new satellite-based soil moisture products (e.g., from the Sentinel satellite or ASCAT) are available at high spatial resolution, increasing their importance for hydrological applications and the need for their validation using historical and new field data. Previous research has demonstrated that remotely sensed soil moisture can enhance runoff modelling, particularly in lowlands. However, the applicability of current satellite-derived soil moisture datasets in mountains remains limited due to complex topography, harsh weather conditions, and the scarcity of reference measurements. The main goal of the proposed thesis is to assess the reliability of a newly developed satellite soil moisture product based on measured data and hydrological modelling in a mountain environment. Experimental soil moisture measurements will be conducted at multiple locations in the Western Tatra Mountains, representing both open and forested conditions. Novel remote sensing soil moisture datasets will be validated using in situ measurements. Multi-objective calibration strategies of a conceptual hydrological model will be developed, incorporating satellite-derived soil moisture data as an additional component to improve hydrological cycle simulations.