Editorial for the Special Issue “Assimilation of Remote Sensing Data into Earth System Models”

Jean-Christophe Calvet,Patricia De Rosnay,Stephen G Penny

doi:10.3390/rs11182177

Abstract

This Special Issue is a collection of papers reporting research on various aspects of coupled data assimilation in Earth system models. It includes contributions presenting recent progress in ocean–atmosphere, land–atmosphere, and soil–vegetation data assimilation.

Highlights

A transition is currently occurring in multiple fields in the Earth sciences towards an integrated Earth system approach, with applications including numerical weather prediction, hydrological forecasting, climate impact studies, ocean dynamics estimation and monitoring, carbon cycle monitoring
These approaches rely on coupled modeling techniques, using Earth system models (ESMs) that account for an increased level of complexity of processes and interactions between atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, and terrestrial surfaces [1]
A crucial component of Earth system approaches is the development of coupled data assimilation (CDA) of satellite observations to ensure consistent initialization at the interface between the different subsystems [2]

Summary

Introduction

A transition is currently occurring in multiple fields in the Earth sciences towards an integrated Earth system approach, with applications including numerical weather prediction, hydrological forecasting, climate impact studies, ocean dynamics estimation and monitoring, carbon cycle monitoring. These approaches rely on coupled modeling techniques, using Earth system models (ESMs) that account for an increased level of complexity of (coupled) processes and interactions between atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, and terrestrial surfaces [1]. A crucial component of Earth system approaches is the development of coupled data assimilation (CDA) of satellite observations to ensure consistent initialization at the interface between the different subsystems [2]. Satellite-derived climate data records of essential climate variables are available for the different components of the Earth system, including terrestrial and ocean surfaces

Ocean–Atmosphere Data Assimilation

Land–Atmosphere Data Assimilation

Soil–Vegetation Data Assimilation

Conclusions