Satellite Radar Altimetry Insights into Dam-Induced Changes and Accuracy of Water Level Estimation for the Mekong River

Monitoring water level (WL) and discharge is crucial for water-resources assessment and management, serving as critical indicators of climatic impacts on water resources. These variables, influenced by climatic forces, mainly affect important river basins such as the Mekong River basin. This study utilized Sentinel 3A satellite radar altimetry to examine WL at the Stung Treng (ST) telemetry station (in-situ) in Cambodia, assessing the impact of dam operations of the Pak Mun Dam in the upper Mekong River within Thailand. The research aimed to analyze river flow dynamics following the implementation of the dam. Incorporating in-situ water observations confirmed the precision of altimetry-derived water levels. Validation of satellite-derived WLs against in-situ data yielded statistically significant results with a correlation of 0.98 between in-situ and altimetry-derived water levels. Measurement accuracy was further assessed through computed accuracy matrices confirming satellite radar altimetry's efficacy. This research highlighted the sensitivity of altimetry to dam operations, explicitly examining the Pak Mun Dam's impact on changing water levels. This information is essential for the smooth management of water resources, especially in the transboundary river basins.