SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Development of a Global In-Situ Soil Moisture Network:A SMOS Project Contribution

P.J. van Oevelen

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Outline

• Previous: Rationale, Framework

• Current: Roadmap, Statement of Work

• Future: Timeline, Required Contribution

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Previous

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Rationale

• No current global network• Soil Moisture regarded as (emerging)

key variable• Temporal change is more important

than spatial representation• Data Assimilation• Earth Observation

Validation/calibration• EO does not give profile information

SM

OS

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Measurement Protocol• Uniformity• Representative• Consistency• Cross-Calibration/Validation• Relationship with gravimetric soil moisture /

standard of reference?• Careful automation• Quality Assurance• Density/depth/number of sensors• Enable unified instructions on installation and

measurement procedure• Discontinuity in series easier to take into account• Full range of possible soil moisture values

•Important because time series are of essence

(limited number of stations)

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Operational

• Continuity• Timely delivery –NRT?• Automation• Linked to Operation Forecast

Centres

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Current

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

SMOS Project Soil Moisture Database

• Who will host?

• What should be in it?

• What type of interface?

• Future links/continuity?

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Who will host?

• Proposed: Portuguese Meteorological Institute in Lisbon, Portugal

• Point of Contact: Pedro Viterbo• Why?

– Current host EUMETSAT LandSAF: http://landsaf.meteo.pt/

– Capability and capacity– Timeliness / administrative advantages– Continuity– Willingness to adhere to (CEOP) standards– Flexibility – direct link to operational services NRT!

http://www.meteo.pt/en/previsao/inicial.jsp

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

SAFs (Satelite Application Facility) currently use data from both meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit as well as from polar-orbiting satellites.

There are currently 5 SAFs in the initial operations phase: • Support to Nowcasting and Very Short Range Forecasting • Ocean and Sea Ice • Climate Monitoring • Numerical Weather Prediction • Land Surface Analysis And a further three under development: • Ozone Monitoring • GRAS Meteorology • Support of Operational Hydrology and Water Management The SAFs help deliver a variety of benefits including: • Improvements to short-range forecasting of severe weather hazards • Support to the aviation, agriculture, construction, gas, water and electricity industries • Better understanding of the causes and effects of pollution of the upper atmosphere and the

depletion of ozone • Early warning of hazards • Better data for climate monitoring • Improved information for land use, ecology, disaster monitoring and agricultural forecasting • Benefits for sea transport, fishing and offshore industries • Improved data for input to Numerical Weather Prediction and the availability of user software

packages for operational applications • Improved software packages and near-real time and offline products •  

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

What should be in it?

• In-Situ Soil Moisture Data– Including metadata– Extensive site description

• (EO) Data from SMOS CAL-VAL– Any data relevant to SMOS CAL-VAL

• Data archive• Clear data policy description / access control• Data control / consistency check

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

What type of interface?

• Web based plus ftp

• Open structure / access (related to policy)– Upload / download

• ISO 19115 standardized (metadata)

• CEOP compatible / shadow hosting?

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Future links / continuity

• Database beyond SMOS CAL/VAL

• Direct link to GEO(SS) – CEOP Prototype

• EO Portals (ESA, GEO others)

• Development from centralized to distributed archive

• Assimilation into global observational networks (GMES, G3OS, GEOSS etc.)

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period

A Prototype of the Global Water Cycle Observation

System of Systems

http://www.ceop.net/

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Near Future:

• Detailed and Final Statement of Work before end of this year (First draft ready now)– Data formats (up and download)– Needs from SMOS Cal-Val?

• Allow for changes/flexibility in Database set-up!

• Secure funding / continuity (2007 start) Relevant for period after SMOS Cal/Val

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Strong User Community

• Involvement• Support• Interaction• Application Fields

– Earth Observations– Weather Forecasting– Climate– Climate Modelling– Agriculture– Water Resources

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Global In-Situ Soil Moisture Network

SMOS SAG, VillafrancaNovember 2-3, 2006

Peter.vanOevelen@esa.int