Articles | Volume 26, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1857-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1857-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
12 Apr 2022
Research article |
| 12 Apr 2022
| 12 Apr 2022
A combined use of in situ and satellite-derived observations to characterize surface hydrology and its variability in the Congo River basin
Benjamin Kitambo
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Université de Toulouse, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT3, Toulouse, France
Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC), Department of Natural Resources Management, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Department of Geology, University of Lubumbashi (UNILU), Route Kasapa, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fabrice Papa
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Université de Toulouse, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT3, Toulouse, France
Institute of Geosciences, Campus Universitario Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), 70910-900 Brasilia (DF), Brazi
Adrien Paris
Hydro Matters, 1 Chemin de la Pousaraque, 31460 Le Faget, France
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Université de Toulouse, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT3, Toulouse, France
Raphael M. Tshimanga
Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC), Department of Natural Resources Management, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Stephane Calmant
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Université de Toulouse, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT3, Toulouse, France
Ayan Santos Fleischmann
Instituto de Pesquisas Hidráulicas (IPH), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé, AM, Brazil
Frederic Frappart
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Université de Toulouse, CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT3, Toulouse, France
INRAE, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR1391 ISPA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux, 33882 CEDEX Villenave d'Ornon, France
Melanie Becker
LIENSs/CNRS, UMR 7266, ULR/CNRS, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, France
Mohammad J. Tourian
Institute of Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Catherine Prigent
LERMA, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université PSL, Paris, France
Johary Andriambeloson
Laboratoire de Géophysique de l'Environnement et de Télédétection (LGET), Institut et Observatoire de Géophysique d'Antananarivo (IOGA), Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Viewed
Total article views: 5,613 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 06 Jul 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,741 | 1,771 | 101 | 5,613 | 110 | 121 |
- HTML: 3,741
- PDF: 1,771
- XML: 101
- Total: 5,613
- BibTeX: 110
- EndNote: 121
Total article views: 3,764 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 12 Apr 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,906 | 784 | 74 | 3,764 | 85 | 107 |
- HTML: 2,906
- PDF: 784
- XML: 74
- Total: 3,764
- BibTeX: 85
- EndNote: 107
Total article views: 1,849 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 06 Jul 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 835 | 987 | 27 | 1,849 | 25 | 14 |
- HTML: 835
- PDF: 987
- XML: 27
- Total: 1,849
- BibTeX: 25
- EndNote: 14
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 5,613 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,386 with geography defined
and 227 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,764 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,674 with geography defined
and 90 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,849 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,712 with geography defined
and 137 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Tropical cyclone induced compound flooding in Madagascar: a coupled modeling approach M. Khan et al. 10.1007/s11069-025-07209-z
- Advancements in earth observation for water resources monitoring and management in Africa: A comprehensive review T. Dube et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129738
- First results of the surface water ocean topography (SWOT) observations to rivers elevation profiles in the Cuvette Centrale of the Congo Basin C. Normandin et al. 10.3389/frsen.2024.1466695
- Spatial-Temporal Evaluation of Satellite-Derived Rainfall Estimations for Water Resource Applications in the Upper Congo River Basin A. Boluwade 10.3390/rs16203868
- Assessing uncertainties of a remote sensing-based discharge reflectance model for applications to large rivers of the Congo Basin D. Kechnit et al. 10.1080/02626667.2024.2378486
- Hydrogeological control of groundwater variations in the Congo River Basin revealed by GRACE water storage change decomposition B. Kitambo et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102810
- Mapping Water Levels across a Region of the Cuvette Centrale Peatland Complex S. Georgiou et al. 10.3390/rs15123099
- Hydrology and Climate Change in Africa: Contemporary Challenges, and Future Resilience Pathways O. Adeyeri 10.3390/w17152247
- Current availability and distribution of Congo Basin’s freshwater resources M. Tourian et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-00836-z
- A long-term monthly surface water storage dataset for the Congo basin from 1992 to 2015 B. Kitambo et al. 10.5194/essd-15-2957-2023
- Indian Ocean Dipole affects eastern tropical Atlantic salinity through Congo River Basin hydrology S. Jarugula & M. McPhaden 10.1038/s43247-023-01027-6
- Improved modeling of Congo's hydrology for floods and droughts analysis and ENSO teleconnections S. Wongchuig et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101563
- Assessment of pluri-annual and decadal changes in terrestrial water storage predicted by global hydrological models in comparison with the GRACE satellite gravity mission J. Pfeffer et al. 10.5194/hess-27-3743-2023
- Creating sustainable capacity for river science in the Congo basin through the CRuHM project P. Bates et al. 10.1098/rsfs.2023.0079
- Satellite Altimetry-based Extension of global-scale in situ river discharge Measurements (SAEM) P. Saemian et al. 10.5194/essd-17-2063-2025
- Areal extent of vegetative cover: A challenge to regional upscaling of methane emissions J. Melack & L. Hess 10.1016/j.aquabot.2022.103592
- Recent significant drying in Central Congo Basin linked to weakened Walker circulation and warmer Atlantic S. Wongchuig et al. 10.1038/s41612-025-01225-3
- Water Resources in Africa: The Role of Earth Observation Data and Hydrodynamic Modeling to Derive River Discharge A. Tarpanelli et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09744-x
- Water Resources in Africa under Global Change: Monitoring Surface Waters from Space F. Papa et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09700-9
- Hydrometeorological Extreme Events in Africa: The Role of Satellite Observations for Monitoring Pluvial and Fluvial Flood Risk M. Gosset et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09749-6
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Tropical cyclone induced compound flooding in Madagascar: a coupled modeling approach M. Khan et al. 10.1007/s11069-025-07209-z
- Advancements in earth observation for water resources monitoring and management in Africa: A comprehensive review T. Dube et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129738
- First results of the surface water ocean topography (SWOT) observations to rivers elevation profiles in the Cuvette Centrale of the Congo Basin C. Normandin et al. 10.3389/frsen.2024.1466695
- Spatial-Temporal Evaluation of Satellite-Derived Rainfall Estimations for Water Resource Applications in the Upper Congo River Basin A. Boluwade 10.3390/rs16203868
- Assessing uncertainties of a remote sensing-based discharge reflectance model for applications to large rivers of the Congo Basin D. Kechnit et al. 10.1080/02626667.2024.2378486
- Hydrogeological control of groundwater variations in the Congo River Basin revealed by GRACE water storage change decomposition B. Kitambo et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102810
- Mapping Water Levels across a Region of the Cuvette Centrale Peatland Complex S. Georgiou et al. 10.3390/rs15123099
- Hydrology and Climate Change in Africa: Contemporary Challenges, and Future Resilience Pathways O. Adeyeri 10.3390/w17152247
- Current availability and distribution of Congo Basin’s freshwater resources M. Tourian et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-00836-z
- A long-term monthly surface water storage dataset for the Congo basin from 1992 to 2015 B. Kitambo et al. 10.5194/essd-15-2957-2023
- Indian Ocean Dipole affects eastern tropical Atlantic salinity through Congo River Basin hydrology S. Jarugula & M. McPhaden 10.1038/s43247-023-01027-6
- Improved modeling of Congo's hydrology for floods and droughts analysis and ENSO teleconnections S. Wongchuig et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101563
- Assessment of pluri-annual and decadal changes in terrestrial water storage predicted by global hydrological models in comparison with the GRACE satellite gravity mission J. Pfeffer et al. 10.5194/hess-27-3743-2023
- Creating sustainable capacity for river science in the Congo basin through the CRuHM project P. Bates et al. 10.1098/rsfs.2023.0079
- Satellite Altimetry-based Extension of global-scale in situ river discharge Measurements (SAEM) P. Saemian et al. 10.5194/essd-17-2063-2025
- Areal extent of vegetative cover: A challenge to regional upscaling of methane emissions J. Melack & L. Hess 10.1016/j.aquabot.2022.103592
- Recent significant drying in Central Congo Basin linked to weakened Walker circulation and warmer Atlantic S. Wongchuig et al. 10.1038/s41612-025-01225-3
3 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Water Resources in Africa: The Role of Earth Observation Data and Hydrodynamic Modeling to Derive River Discharge A. Tarpanelli et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09744-x
- Water Resources in Africa under Global Change: Monitoring Surface Waters from Space F. Papa et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09700-9
- Hydrometeorological Extreme Events in Africa: The Role of Satellite Observations for Monitoring Pluvial and Fluvial Flood Risk M. Gosset et al. 10.1007/s10712-022-09749-6
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 30 Oct 2025
Short summary
This study presents a better characterization of surface hydrology variability in the Congo River basin, the second largest river system in the world. We jointly use a large record of in situ and satellite-derived observations to monitor the spatial distribution and different timings of the Congo River basin's annual flood dynamic, including its peculiar bimodal pattern.
This study presents a better characterization of surface hydrology variability in the Congo...
