Remedy 2: Use of models which require physical inputs either from Land Surface Models (LSMs) or remotely-sensed variables

Primary gap remedy type: 
Research
Proposed remedy description: 

While retrievals of emissivity and surface-skin temperature are currently used for microwave atmospheric sounding and imaging instruments over land, as a long-term goal, it would be beneficial to move towards the use of models which require physical inputs either from Land Surface Models (LSMs) or remotely-sensed variables. Uncertainties should also be estimated. We therefore suggest, as long-term goals:

  • The development of emissivity models over a wide range of frequencies (1-200 GHz) that rely on remotely-sensed parameters and/or atlases of land-surface characteristics; and are validated with ground-based or airborne radiometer measurements for different surface types.

  •      Inter-comparisons of available emissivity models, in particular physically based (e.g. multilayer) and simplified models. 

Relevance: 

There is a need to establish traceable uncertainties for NWP fields and radiances calculated from them. 

Measurable outcome of success: 

Documented, quantitative, evaluation of land surface emissivity values estimated from models with respect to measurements of land-surface emissivity obtained during experimental campaigns, for a globally representative range of surfaces. 

Expected viability for the outcome of success: 
  • Medium
Scale of work: 
  • Single institution
  • 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