Remedy 1: Provision of validated land surface infrared emissivity atlases

Primary gap remedy type: 
Technical
TRL4
Secondary gap remedy type: 
Deployment
Research
Proposed remedy description: 

There is a need to establish a comprehensive set of dynamic land surface infrared emissivity atlases. It is first required to perform an intercomparison of available emissivity models to ascertain their potential strengths and weaknesses and highlight where the greatest uncertainties exist. It is then necessary to coordinate airborne campaigns to validate land-emissivity models in the infrared-spectral region with a special focus on those domains where current models are most uncertain. The resulting improved infrared emissivity atlases should be made openly available in usable formats and broadly advertised. Peer-reviewed publications are likely to be required to build confidence in and raise awareness of these products. 

Relevance: 

There is a need to establish a comprehensive set of dynamic land surface infrared emissivity atlases. The resulting improved infrared emissivity atlases should be made openly available in usable formats and broadly advertised. 

Measurable outcome of success: 

Publicly available, open-source, dynamic (daily) spectral emissivity atlases in the infrared (3-17 μm). Documented, quantitative evaluation of infrared land surface emissivity atlases and models with respect to measurements of land-surface emissivity obtained during airborne campaigns, for a globally representative range of surfaces. 

Expected viability for the outcome of success: 
  • Medium
Scale of work: 
  • Consortium
Time bound to remedy: 
  • Less than 5 years
Indicative cost estimate (investment): 
  • Medium cost (< 5 million)
Indicative cost estimate (exploitation): 
  • No
Potential actors: 
  • National funding agencies
  • National Meteorological Services
  • ESA, EUMETSAT or other space agency
  • Academia, individual research institutes