Integrating Remote Sensing Data and Energy Balance Modeling for Detection of Drought and Its Publication in the Internet (Case Study of Karawang District, West Java)

Abstract

Drought detection based on evaporative fraction (EF) in Karawang district has been done by using remote sensing and energy balance modeling. EF indicates how much of the available energy is used for evapotranspiration, that is, for transpiration of the vegetation and evaporation of the soil and EF will be close to one (no water stress). As long as moisture is available, energy will be used for its evaporation. With little or no moisture left, all available energy will be directed into the sensible heat flux and EF will approach zero (serious water stress). The objectives of this research are to analyze energy balance and evaporative fraction as drought indicator in Karawang district; to asses the potential use of remote sensing capability in identifying the surface cover parameter of image and visualization using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System and to develop a web-based GIS application to visualize and disseminate research results. The core processes of workflows involved in this research are image pre processing, data processing and analysis, and developing web-based GIS. Potential drought in Karawang district is low either in the wet season or dry season. Web based GIS drought indicator in Karawang district has been tested by sample end user. This process was done to see comments from the users after seeing and using this system.