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Joint Assimilation of SMOS Brightness Temperature and GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Observations for Improved Soil Moisture EstimationObservations from recent soil moisture missions (e.g. SMOS) have been used in innovative data assimilation studies to provide global high spatial (i.e. 40 km) and temporal resolution (i.e. 3-days) soil moisture profile estimates from microwave brightness temperature observations. In contrast with microwave-based satellite missions that are only sensitive to near-surface soil moisture (0 - 5 cm), the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission provides accurate measurements of the entire vertically integrated terrestrial water storage column but, it is characterized by low spatial (i.e. 150,000 km2) and temporal (i.e. monthly) resolutions. Data assimilation studies have shown that GRACE-TWS primarily affects (in absolute terms) deeper moisture storages (i.e., groundwater). This work hypothesizes that unprecedented soil water profile accuracy can be obtained through the joint assimilation of GRACE terrestrial water storage and SMOS brightness temperature observations. A particular challenge of the joint assimilation is the use of the two different types of measurements that are relevant for hydrologic processes representing different temporal and spatial scales. The performance of the joint assimilation strongly depends on the chosen assimilation methods, measurement and model error spatial structures. The optimization of the assimilation technique constitutes a fundamental step toward a multi-variate multi-resolution integrative assimilation system aiming to improve our understanding of the global terrestrial water cycle.
Document ID
20170012175
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Girotto, Manuela (Universities Space Research Association Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Reichle, Rolf H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
De Lannoy, Gabrielle J. M. (Katholieke Univ. te Leuven Belgium)
Rodell, Matthew (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
December 15, 2017
Publication Date
December 11, 2017
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
Poster ID: H51E-1311
GSFC-E-DAA-TN50421
Meeting Information
Meeting: AGU Fall Meeting
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 11, 2017
End Date: December 15, 2017
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11HP16A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Soil Moisture
SMO

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