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Land data assimilation with satellite measurements for the estimation of surface energy balance components and surface control on evaporation
Author(s) -
Boni Giorgio,
Entekhabi Dara,
Castelli Fabio
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2001wr900020
Subject(s) - latent heat , satellite , data assimilation , environmental science , energy balance , evaporation , remote sensing , meteorology , surface (topology) , sensible heat , atmospheric sciences , geology , geography , mathematics , physics , geometry , astronomy , thermodynamics
A variational land data assimilation system is used to estimate latent heat flux and surface control on evaporation. The dynamic equation for surface temperature with energy balance is used as a constraint on the estimation using the adjoint technique. Measurements of land surface temperature from satellite remote sensing are assimilated over two subregions within the Southern Great Plains 1997 hydrology field experiment. The performance of the estimation is linked to the timing of the satellite overpass. During days when the measurements close to the time of peak ground temperature are available, the estimation is adequate. The approach shows that satellite remote sensing of land temperature may be used to provide estimates of components of the surface energy balance and land surface control on evaporation. The latter parameter is related to surface soil moisture, and here they are compared with independent values derived from ground measurements.