Water balance estimation of the Campo de Cartagena watershed using hydrological modeling and remote sensing

This work uses hydrological modeling and remote sensing techniques to estimate the spatial and temporal patterns of the water balance of an intensively irrigated agricultural watershed in southeastern Spain.Remote sensing-based vegetation indexes were used to estimate crop evapotranspiration rates and as an input in the model.Model outcomes give insight in the overall water account of the watershed.They highlight the critical role of the groundwater system in the water balance, and the differences between abstractions and recharge, depending on the hydrological conditions.