Is it possible to calculate the amount of groundwater using satellite images within a certain layer under the surface for a few centimeters? Are there special sensors to capture it?
As per my view, this could not be used directly for ground water assessment. You can use other satellite data like GRACE gravity data for your purpose. However, this could be an interesting topic for R&D activity.
GRACE satellite can sense changes in groundwater water storage after few steps. Of course, the data of this satellite is not an image and is a measure of time dependent gravity. You can read this paper:
Article Validation of GRACE based groundwater storage anomaly using ...
You can use GLDAS and GRACE data to estimate groundwork in few centimeter. GLDAS have four land surface models. Each model has soil moisture layer at different depth from the surface. You can select depth as much as you want to subtract from GRACE data.
Calculating the amount of groundwater beneath the surface using satellite images, especially for a few centimeters of depth, is a challenging task. While remote sensing techniques and satellite data can provide valuable information about surface water and some aspects of groundwater, accurately quantifying groundwater at shallow depths typically requires specialized sensors and ground-based measurements. Here are some important considerations:
Remote Sensing Limitations: Traditional satellite imagery, including optical and infrared sensors, is limited in its ability to directly measure groundwater depth at shallow levels. These sensors mainly capture surface features and cannot penetrate the ground to provide detailed information about subsurface water.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Ground Penetrating Radar is a geophysical method that can be used to assess subsurface features, including the depth and distribution of groundwater in shallow layers. GPR instruments emit radar waves into the ground and measure the reflections, allowing for the mapping of subsurface characteristics.
Laser Altimetry: Some satellite missions, like the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), use laser altimetry to measure surface elevation changes. While this technology is not typically used for groundwater assessments, it can indirectly provide information about changes in surface water levels, which may be related to groundwater fluctuations.
GRACE Satellites: The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission used a pair of satellites to measure variations in Earth's gravity field caused by changes in groundwater, among other factors. Although it could detect large-scale changes in groundwater storage, it had limited spatial resolution and could not provide information at shallow depths.
In Situ Groundwater Monitoring: For accurate and reliable measurements of groundwater at shallow depths, ground-based monitoring equipment such as piezometers and wells are commonly used. These instruments can directly measure groundwater levels and other parameters at specific locations.
Hydrogeological Models: Combining satellite data with hydrogeological models can help estimate groundwater levels and storage at shallow depths. These models use remote sensing data as input to simulate groundwater behavior.
In summary, while satellite data can contribute to groundwater studies by providing information on land surface conditions and large-scale changes in groundwater storage, it is not typically used to directly measure groundwater at shallow depths. Specialized sensors like Ground Penetrating Radar and in situ monitoring equipment are more suitable for this purpose. Combining various data sources, including satellite imagery, ground-based measurements, and hydrogeological models, can provide a more comprehensive understanding of groundwater resources.