Fusion of active and passive microwave observations to create an Essential Climate Variable data record on soil moisture

摘要: Soil moisture was recently included in the list of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) that are deemed essential for IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Change) and UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention needs considered feasible global observation. ECVs data records should be as long, complete consistent possible, case soil this means record shall based multiple sources, including but not limited to active (scatterometer) passive (radiometer) microwave observations acquired preferably low-frequency range. Among sensors can used task C-band scatterometers board ERS METOP satellites multi-frequency radiometers SMMR, SSM/I, TMI, AMSR-E, Windsat. Together, these already cover a time period more than 30 years question is how by merged create one record? This paper discusses high-level possible approaches fusing individual satellite data. It argued best approach fusion different sets merge Level 2 derived from records. has been demonstrated within WACMOS project (http://wacmos.itc.nl/) funded European Space Agency (ESA) will further improved Change Initiative (CCI) programme ESA (http://www.esa-cci.org/).