Remote Sensing and Climate Modeling: Synergies and Limitations (Advances in Global Change Research (7))

1 2 Michel M. VERSTRAETE and Martin BENISTON 1 Space Applications Institute, EC Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy 2 Department of Geography, University of Fribourg, Switzerland This volume contains the proceedings ofthe workshop entitled “Satellite Remote Sensing and Climate Simulations: Synergies and Limitations” that took place in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, September 20–24, 1999. This international scientific conference aimed at addressing the current and pot- tial role of satellite remote sensing in climate modeling, with a particular focus on land surface processes and atmospheric aerosol characterization. Global and regional circulation models incorporate our knowledge ofthe dynamics ofthe Earth's atmosphere. They are used to predict the evolution of the weather and climate. Mathematically, this system is represented by a set ofpartial differential equations whose solution requires initial and bo- dary conditions. Limitations in the accuracy and geographical distribution of these constraints, and intrinsic mathematical sensitivity to these conditions do not allow the identification of a unique solution (prediction). Additional observations on the climate system are thus used to constrain the forecasts of the mathematical model to remain close to the observed state ofthe system. A global vegetation index for SeaWiFS: Design and applications....Pages 5-21 Modeling sensible heat flux using estimates of soil and vegetation temperatures: the HEIFE and IMGRASS experiments....Pages 23-49 Exploitation of Surface Albedo Derived From the Meteosat Data to Characterize Land Surface Changes....Pages 51-67 Towards a Climatology of Australian Land Surface Albedo for use in Climate Models....Pages 69-84 Collocated surface and satellite observations as constraints for Earth radiation budget simulations with global climate models....Pages 85-102 How well do aerosol retrievals from satellites and representation in global circulation models match ground-based AERONET aerosol statistics?....Pages 103-158 Remote Sensing of Snow and Characterization of Snow Albedo for Climate Simulations....Pages 159-180 Using the Special Sensor Microwave Imager to Monitor Surface Wetness and Temperature....Pages 181-202 Snow Cover Fraction In A General Circulation Model....Pages 203-232 Boreal Forest Fire Regimes And Climate Change....Pages 233-246 Specification of surface characteristics for use in a high resolution regional climate model: on the role of glaciers in the swiss alps....Pages 247-271 Using Satellite Data Assimilation to Infer Global Soil Moisture Status and Vegetation Feedback to Climate....Pages 273-306 The Use of Remotely-Sensed Data for the Estimation of Energy Balance Components in a Mountainous Catchment Area....Pages 307-327 Integration of operationally available remote sensing and synoptic data for surface energy balance modelling and environmental applications on the regional scale....Pages 329-343

This book for the first time covers state-of-the-art research in two domains which are largely complementary, but which have until now not made optimum use of their complementarity: remote sensing techniques and climate models. The material presented in the book covers such diverse areas within satellite remote sensing techniques as aerosol loading of the atmosphere, characterization of the land surface (type and extent of vegetation, reflectivity of snow, land and vegetation), soil moisture, etc. Such parameters are important determinants of the climate system and its evolution, and are often poorly quantified in climate models; the advantage of remote sensing techniques, which have a global coverage, therefore becomes obvious for the climate modeling community.
The book is primarily aimed at advanced academic research, at PhD or post-doctoral levels and beyond.