Preface "Earth observation for land-atmosphere interaction science"

Abstract

iLEAPS International Project Office (iLEAPS IPO), Department of Physics, P.O. Box 48, 00014 University of Helsinki,FinlandCorrespondence to: D. Fernandez-Prieto (diego.fernandez@esa.int)´1 IntroductionLand–atmosphere interactions include a variety of complexprocesses and feedbacks between radiative, hydrological,and biogeochemical processes resulting in critical exchangesof energy and matter that influence the overall Earth systemand its climate. The observation, understanding and predic-tion of such processes from local to global scales represent amajor scientific challenge that requires multidisciplinary sci-entific effort and international coordination involving differ-ent scientific communities and technologies.The study of land–atmosphere interactions has been hin-dered in the past by the lack of suitable data at the requiredspatial and temporal scales. Over the last few years, Earthobservation (EO) data integrated with in situ networks andsuitable models have demonstrated the potential to becomea major tool for observing key variables and characterisingthe main processes governing land–atmosphere interactionsat global to local scales. In the next few years the capabilitiesof monitoring land surface and atmosphere will be furtherimproved by the increasing number of advanced EO mis-sions to be launched by space agencies. The full exploita-tion of such increasing multi-mission observational capacityrequires harmonised research efforts involving both EO andEarth system scientists, modellers, and institutions to developnovel observations and robust biophysical products to be ef-fectively integrated with in situ data and within appropriatecoupled models.In this context, in 2010, the European Space Agency(ESA), iLEAPS (the Integrated Land Ecosystem–Atmosphere Processes Study of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, IGBP) and the European GeoscienceUnion (EGU) organised an international conference on EOfor Land–Atmosphere Interaction Science at the ESA centrein Frascati (Italy). The conference, attracting almost 200scientists worldwide, aimed at bringing together the EO andEarth system communities, as well as scientific institutionsand space agencies involved in the observation, characteri-sation and forecasting of land–atmosphere interactions andtheir impacts. In particular, the event presented a uniqueopportunity to facilitate the communications and scientificexchanges among these different communities in order toenhance the coordination of specific scientific efforts andadvocate for a common view of major scientific needs andpriority areas for the future.As a synthesis of these recent advances, this special issueentitled “Earth observation and land–atmosphere interactionsscience” collects some of the works presented at the aboveconference and gathers a number of scientific results demon-strating the potential and exploring the limits of EO tech-nology as a key tool to advance our current knowledge onland–atmosphere processes at different scales in space andtime.After an overview of the main scientific challenges inland–atmosphere interactions today (Sect. 2), the scientificadvances reported in the papers of this special issue will bebriefly summarised in Sect. 3. Section 4 will provide an out-look to future opportunities.Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.