Satellite remote sensing estimation of river discharge: Application to the Yukon River Alaska

•Jason-2 altimetry observed water surface height and slope dynamics Yukon River Alaska.•The USGS Dynamic Surface Water Extent applied to Landsat estimated the mean width.•The remote observations were used to estimate the river depth, velocity, and discharge.•The remotely sensed discharge was estimated within 5% of measured USGS discharge.•Historical time series of discharge could be developed from archived information.