Satellite and In Situ Observations for Advancing Global Earth Surface Modelling: A Review

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  • Gianpaolo Balsamo
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Anna Agusti-Parareda
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Clement Albergel
    Centre National de Recherches Météorologique
  • Gabriele Arduini
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Anton Beljaars
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Jean Bidlot
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Nicolas Bousserez
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Souhail Boussetta
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Andy Brown
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Roberto Buizza
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Carlo Buontempo
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Frederic Chevallier
    Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace
  • Margarita Choulga
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Hannah Cloke
    University of Reading
  • Meghan F. Cronin
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Mohamed Dahoui
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Patricia De Rosnay
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Paul A. Dirmeyer
    George Mason University, Fairfax
  • Matthias Drusch
    European Space Agency, Netherlands
  • Emanuel Dutra
    University of Lisbon
  • Michael B. Ek
    National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder
  • Pierre Gentine
    Columbia University, New York
  • Helene Hewitt
    Met Office
  • Sarah P. E. Keeley
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Yann Kerr
    Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales
  • Sujay Kumar
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • Cristina Lupu
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Jean-Francois Mahfouf
    Centre National de Recherches Météorologique
  • Joe McNorton
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Susanne Mecklenburg
    European Space Agency, Netherlands
  • Kristian Mogensen
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Joaquin Munoz-Sabater
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Rene Orth
    Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena
  • Florence Rabier
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Rolf Reichle
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • Ben Ruston
    Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey
  • Florian Pappenberger
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Irina Sandu
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Sonia I. Seneviratne
    ETH Zürich
  • Steffen Tietsche
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • Isabel F. Trigo
    Instituto Português do Mar e da Amosfera (IPMA)
  • Remko Uijlenhoet
    Wageningen University & Research
  • Nils Wedi
    European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading
  • R. Iestyn Woolway
    University of Reading
  • Xubin Zeng
    University of Arizona, Tucson
In this paper, we review the use of satellite-based remote sensing in combination with in situ data to inform Earth surface modelling. This involves verification and optimization methods that can handle both random and systematic errors and result in effective model improvement for both surface monitoring and prediction applications. The reasons for diverse remote sensing data and products include (i) their complementary areal and temporal coverage, (ii) their diverse and covariant information content, and (iii) their ability to complement in situ observations, which are often sparse and only locally representative. To improve our understanding of the complex behavior of the Earth system at the surface and sub-surface, we need large volumes of data from high-resolution modelling and remote sensing, since the Earth surface exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity and discontinuities in space and time. The spatial and temporal variability of the biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and anthroposphere calls for an increased use of Earth observation (EO) data attaining volumes previously considered prohibitive. We review data availability and discuss recent examples where satellite remote sensing is used to infer observable surface quantities directly or indirectly, with particular emphasis on key parameters necessary for weather and climate prediction. Coordinated high-resolution remote-sensing and modelling/assimilation capabilities for the Earth surface are required to support an international application-focused effort.

Keywords

  • earth-observations, earth system modelling, direct and inverse methods
Original languageEnglish
JournalRemote Sensing
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2018
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