authority: gcos
slug: river-discharge
name: River Discharge
domain: land
subdomain: hydrosphere
authority_id: gcos:river-discharge
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: water_volume_transport_in_river_channel
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: discharge
    entity: river
canonical_units: m3 s-1
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Volume flow rate of water through river cross-sections, from in-situ
  gauges (GRDC) and satellite altimetry/SWOT-derived discharge. Closes
  the terrestrial water balance and quantifies freshwater export to ocean.
theme: hydrology
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/river-discharge