Ground, Proximal, and Satellite Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture

Soil moisture (SM) is a key hydrologic state variable that is of significant importance for numerous Earth and environmental science applications that directly impact the global environment and human society. Potential applications include, but are not limited to, forecasting of weather and climate variability; prediction and monitoring of drought conditions; management and allocation of water resources; agricultural plant production and alleviation of famine; prevention of natural disasters such as wild fires, landslides, floods, and dust storms; or monitoring of ecosystem response to climate change. Because of the importance and wide‐ranging applicability of highly variable spatial and temporal SM information that links the water, energy, and carbon cycles, significant efforts and resources have been devoted in recent years to advance SM measurement and monitoring capabilities from the point to the global scales. This review encompasses recent advances and the state‐of‐the‐art of ground, proximal, and novel SM remote sensing techniques at various spatial and temporal scales and identifies critical future research needs and directions to further advance and optimize technology, analysis and retrieval methods, and the application of SM information to improve the understanding of critical zone moisture dynamics. Despite the impressive progress over the last decade, there are still many opportunities and needs to, for example, improve SM retrieval from remotely sensed optical, thermal, and microwave data and opportunities for novel applications of SM information for water resources management, sustainable environmental development, and food security

Hillslope-scale soil moisture estimation with a physically-based ecohydrology model and L-band microwave remote sensing observations from space

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 469-488).Soil moisture is a critical hydrosphere state variable that links the global water, energy, and carbon cycles. Knowledge of soil moisture at scales of individual hillslopes (10's to 100's of meters) is critical to advancing applications such as landslide prediction, rainfall-runoff modeling, and wildland fire fuel load assessment. This thesis develops a data assimilation framework that employs the ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) to estimate the spatial distribution of soil moisture at hillslope scales by combining uncertain model estimates with noisy active and passive L-band microwave observations. Uncertainty in the modeled soil moisture state is estimated through Monte Carlo simulations with an existing spatially distributed ecohydrology model. Application of the EnKF to estimate hillslope-scale soil moisture in a watershed critically depends on: (1) identification of factors contributing to uncertainty in soil moisture, (2) adequate representation of the sources of uncertainty in soil moisture, and (3) formulation of an observing system to estimate the geophysically observable quantities based on the modeled soil moisture. Uncertainty in the modeled soil moisture distribution arises principally from uncertainty in the hydrometeorological forcings and imperfect knowledge of the soil parameters required as input to the model. Three stochastic models are used in combination to simulate uncertain hourly hydrometeorological forcings for the model. Soil parameter sets are generated using a stochastic approach that samples low probability but potentially high consequence parameter values and preserves correlation among the parameters. The observing system recognizes the role of the model in organizing the factors effecting emission and reflection of L-band microwave energy and emphasizes the role of topography in determining the satellite viewing geometry at hillslope scales.(cont.) Experiments in which true soil moisture conditions were simulated by the model and used to produce synthetic observations at spatial scales significantly coarser than the model resolution reveal that sequential assimilation of observations improves the hillslope-scale near-surface moisture estimate. Results suggest that the data assimilation framework is an effective means of disaggregating coarse-scale observations according to the model physics represented by the ecohydrology model. The thesis concludes with a discussion of contributions, implications, and future directions of this work.by Alejandro Nicolas Flores.Ph.D

Microwave Indices from Active and Passive Sensors for Remote Sensing Applications

Past research has comprehensively assessed the capabilities of satellite sensors operating at microwave frequencies, both active (SAR, scatterometers) and passive (radiometers), for the remote sensing of Earth’s surface. Besides brightness temperature and backscattering coefficient, microwave indices, defined as a combination of data collected at different frequencies and polarizations, revealed a good sensitivity to hydrological cycle parameters such as surface soil moisture, vegetation water content, and snow depth and its water equivalent. The differences between microwave backscattering and emission at more frequencies and polarizations have been well established in relation to these parameters, enabling operational retrieval algorithms based on microwave indices to be developed. This Special Issue aims at providing an overview of microwave signal capabilities in estimating the main land parameters of the hydrological cycle, e.g., soil moisture, vegetation water content, and snow water equivalent, on both local and global scales, with a particular focus on the applications of microwave indices

Multi-sensor remote sensing for drought characterization: current status, opportunities and a roadmap for the future

Satellite based remote sensing offers one of the few approaches able to monitor the spatial and temporal development of regional to continental scale droughts. A unique element of remote sensing platforms is their multi-sensor capability, which enhances the capacity for characterizing drought from a variety of perspectives. Such aspects include monitoring drought influences on vegetation and hydrological responses, as well as assessing sectoral impacts (e.g., agriculture). With advances in remote sensing systems along with an increasing range of platforms available for analysis, this contribution provides a timely and systematic review of multi-sensor remote sensing drought studies, with a particular focus on drought related datasets, drought related phenomena and mechanisms, and drought modeling. To explore this topic, we first present a comprehensive summary of large-scale remote sensing datasets that can be used for multi-sensor drought studies. We then review the role of multi-sensor remote sensing for exploring key drought related phenomena and mechanisms, including vegetation responses to drought, land-atmospheric feedbacks during drought, drought-induced tree mortality, drought-related ecosystem fires, post-drought recovery and legacy effects, flash drought, as well as drought trends under climate change. A summary of recent modeling advances towards developing integrated multi-sensor remote sensing drought indices is also provided. We conclude that leveraging multi-sensor remote sensing provides unique benefits for regional to global drought studies, particularly in: 1) revealing the complex drought impact mechanisms on ecosystem components; 2) providing continuous long-term drought related information at large scales; 3) presenting real-time drought information with high spatiotemporal resolution; 4) providing multiple lines of evidence of drought monitoring to improve modeling and prediction robustness; and 5) improving the accuracy of drought monitoring and assessment efforts. We specifically highlight that more mechanism-oriented drought studies that leverage a combination of sensors and techniques (e.g., optical, microwave, hyperspectral, LiDAR, and constellations) across a range of spatiotemporal scales are needed in order to progress and advance our understanding, characterization and description of drought in the future

Advances in Remote Sensing-based Disaster Monitoring and Assessment

Remote sensing data and techniques have been widely used for disaster monitoring and assessment. In particular, recent advances in sensor technologies and artificial intelligence-based modeling are very promising for disaster monitoring and readying responses aimed at reducing the damage caused by disasters. This book contains eleven scientific papers that have studied novel approaches applied to a range of natural disasters such as forest fire, urban land subsidence, flood, and tropical cyclones

2016 International Land Model Benchmarking (ILAMB) Workshop Report

As earth system models (ESMs) become increasingly complex, there is a growing need for comprehensive and multi-faceted evaluation of model projections. To advance understanding of terrestrial biogeochemical processes and their interactions with hydrology and climate under conditions of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, new analysis methods are required that use observations to constrain model predictions, inform model development, and identify needed measurements and field experiments. Better representations of biogeochemistryclimate feedbacks and ecosystem processes in these models are essential for reducing the acknowledged substantial uncertainties in 21st century climate change projections

Examining Ecosystem Drought Responses Using Remote Sensing and Flux Tower Observations

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Water is fundamental for plant growth, and vegetation response to water availability influences water, carbon, and energy exchanges between land and atmosphere. Vegetation plays the most active role in water and carbon cycle of various ecosystems. Therefore, comprehensive evaluation of drought impact on vegetation productivity will play a critical role for better understanding the global water cycle under future climate conditions. In-situ meteorological measurements and the eddy covariance flux tower network, which provide meteorological data, and estimates of ecosystem productivity and respiration are remarkable tools to assess the impacts of drought on ecosystem carbon and water cycles. In regions with limited in-situ observations, remote sensing can be a very useful tool to monitor ecosystem drought status since it provides continuous observations of relevant variables linked to ecosystem function and the hydrologic cycle. However, the detailed understanding of ecosystem responses to drought is still lacking and it is challenging to quantify the impacts of drought on ecosystem carbon balance and several factors hinder our explicit understanding of the complex drought impacts. This dissertation addressed drought monitoring, ecosystem drought responses, trends of vegetation water constraint based on in-situ metrological observations, flux tower and multi-sensor remote sensing observations. This dissertation first developed a new integrated drought index applicable across diverse climate regions based on in-situ meteorological observations and multi-sensor remote sensing data, and another integrated drought index applicable across diverse climate regions only based on multi-sensor remote sensing data. The dissertation also evaluated the applicability of new satellite dataset (e.g., solar induced fluorescence, SIF) for responding to meteorological drought. Results show that satellite SIF data could have the potential to reflect meteorological drought, but the application should be limited to dry regions. The work in this dissertation also accessed changes in water constraint on global vegetation productivity, and quantified different drought dimensions on ecosystem productivity and respiration. Results indicate that a significant increase in vegetation water constraint over the last 30 years. The results highlighted the need for a more explicit consideration of the influence of water constraints on regional and global vegetation under a warming climate

Rôle de la perturbation par le vent dans les forêts tropicales via un modèle dynamique de végétation et l'observation satellitaire

Les perturbations naturelles ont une influence importante sur la structure, la composition et le fonctionnement des forêts tropicales et un rôle dans la régulation des cycles biogéochimiques. La fréquence et l'intensité des perturbations naturelles sont modifiés par les changements climatiques : une meilleure connaissance de leur mécanisme d'action est nécessaire pour prédire les conséquences de cette modification. La modélisation permet d'évaluer le rôle de chacun des processus écologiques et leur lien avec les facteurs environnementaux. Les outils de la télédétection nous informent sur la structure et le fonctionnement des forêts à large échelle, et peuvent être utiles à la calibration et la validation des modèles de végétation. Dans cette thèse, j'ai employé ces deux approches pour examiner comment les forêts tropicales sont façonnées par les perturbations naturelles, notamment le vent, qui est un facteur majeur de perturbation dans de nombreuses régions tropicales. Dans un premier temps, j'ai évalué la transférabilité d'un modèle individu-centré et spatialement explicite via un test de sensibilité et la calibration des paramètres globaux. Le modèle prédit correctement la structure de la forêt sur deux sites contrastés, et sa réponse est cohérente avec les variations du forçage climatique. La calibration d'un petit nombre de paramètres clés a été nécessaire, dont notamment celui qui contrôle la mortalité. Pour étudier la sensibilité du modèle à la mortalité, j'ai mis en œuvre un module de dégâts de vents fondé sur les principes biophysiques et couplé avec la vitesse de vent, afin de modéliser les réponses de la forêt aux évènements de vent extrême. Avec l'augmentation du niveau de perturbation, la hauteur de la canopée diminue de manière constante mais la biomasse montre une réponse non-linéaire. L'intensité du vent a un fort impact sur la hauteur de la canopée et la biomasse, mais pas la fréquence des évènements de vent extrême. Finalement, j'ai testé si les données radar des satellites Sentinel-1 pourraient servir à détecter les trouées dues aux perturbations naturelles en Guyane française. Les données Sentinel-1 détectent plus de trouées naturelles au-dessus de 0.2 ha que les données satellitaires optiques, et elles présentent un patron spatial cohérent avec les images optiques. Le niveau de perturbation ne varie pas en fonction de l'altitude. Nous avons trouvé plus de perturbations pendant les saisons sèches, ce qui pourrait être dû à la réponse tardive des précipitations plutôt qu'à la réponse directe de la sècheresse. En conclusion, cette thèse démontre que l'intégration entre la modélisation et la télédétection éclairent les effets des perturbations naturelles sur les forêts tropicales. Les résultats qui en découlent peuvent servir à étudier d'autres types de perturbations et leurs interactions sur une large échelle.Natural disturbances have an important influence on the structure, composition and functioning of tropical forests and a role in the regulation of biogeochemical cycles. The frequency and intensity of natural disturbances are modified by climate change: a better knowledge of their mechanism of action is necessary to predict the consequences of this modification. Modeling allows us to evaluate the role of each of the ecological processes and their link with environmental factors. Remote sensing tools inform us about the structure and functioning of forests at large scales, and can be useful for the calibration and validation of vegetation models. In this thesis, I employed both approaches to examine how tropical forests are shaped by natural disturbances, particularly wind, which is a major disturbance factor in many tropical regions. First, I evaluated the transferability of a spatially explicit, individual-based model via sensitivity testing and calibration of global parameters. The model correctly predicts forest structure at two contrasting sites, and its response is consistent with variations in climate forcing. Calibration of a small number of key parameters was required, including the parameter controlling mortality and crown allometry. To investigate the sensitivity of the model to mortality, I implemented a wind damage module based on biophysical principles and coupled with wind speed to model forest responses to extreme wind events. With increasing disturbance level, canopy height decreased steadily but biomass showed a non-linear response. Wind intensity had a strong impact on canopy height and biomass, but not the frequency of extreme wind events. Finally, I tested whether radar data from Sentinel-1 satellites could be used to detect gaps due to natural disturbances in French Guiana. The Sentinel-1 data detected more natural gaps above 0.2 ha than the optical satellite data, and they showed a spatial pattern consistent with the optical images. The level of disturbance did not vary with altitude. We found more disturbance during dry seasons, which could be due to the delayed response of precipitation rather than the direct response of drought. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that the integration between modeling and remote sensing sheds light on the effects of natural disturbances on tropical forests. The resulting results can be used to study other types of disturbances and their interactions on a large scale

The data concept behind the data: From metadata models and labelling schemes towards a generic spectral library

Spectral libraries play a major role in imaging spectroscopy. They are commonly used to store end-member and spectrally pure material spectra, which are primarily used for mapping or unmixing purposes. However, the development of spectral libraries is time consuming and usually sensor and site dependent. Spectral libraries are therefore often developed, used and tailored only for a specific case study and only for one sensor. Multi-sensor and multi-site use of spectral libraries is difficult and requires technical effort for adaptation, transformation, and data harmonization steps. Especially the huge amount of urban material specifications and its spectral variations hamper the setup of a complete spectral library consisting of all available urban material spectra. By a combined use of different urban spectral libraries, besides the improvement of spectral inter- and intra-class variability, missing material spectra could be considered with respect to a multi-sensor/ -site use. Publicly available spectral libraries mostly lack the metadata information that is essential for describing spectra acquisition and sampling background, and can serve to some extent as a measure of quality and reliability of the spectra and the entire library itself. In the GenLib project, a concept for a generic, multi-site and multi-sensor usable spectral library for image spectra on the urban focus was developed. This presentation will introduce a 1) unified, easy-to-understand hierarchical labeling scheme combined with 2) a comprehensive metadata concept that is 3) implemented in the SPECCHIO spectral information system to promote the setup and usability of a generic urban spectral library (GUSL). The labelling scheme was developed to ensure the translation of individual spectral libraries with their own labelling schemes and their usually varying level of details into the GUSL framework. It is based on a modified version of the EAGLE classification concept by combining land use, land cover, land characteristics and spectral characteristics. The metadata concept consists of 59 mandatory and optional attributes that are intended to specify the spatial context, spectral library information, references, accessibility, calibration, preprocessing steps, and spectra specific information describing library spectra implemented in the GUSL. It was developed on the basis of existing metadata concepts and was subject of an expert survey. The metadata concept and the labelling scheme are implemented in the spectral information system SPECCHIO, which is used for sharing and holding GUSL spectra. It allows easy implementation of spectra as well as their specification with the proposed metadata information to extend the GUSL. Therefore, the proposed data model represents a first fundamental step towards a generic usable and continuously expandable spectral library for urban areas. The metadata concept and the labelling scheme also build the basis for the necessary adaptation and transformation steps of the GUSL in order to use it entirely or in excerpts for further multi-site and multi-sensor applications