Developing machine learning models with multisource inputs for improved land surface soil moisture in China

2022 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 106623
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Shibo Fang ◽  
Zhifang Pei ◽  
Dong Wu ◽  
Yongchao Zhu ◽  
...  
2014 ◽  
Vol 607 ◽  
pp. 830-834
Author(s):  
Hong Zhang Ma ◽  
Su Mei Liu

—Surface soil moisture is an important parameter in describing the water and energy exchanges at the land surface/atmosphere interface. Passive microwave remote sensors have great potential for monitoring surface soil moisture over land surface. The objective of this study is going to establish a model for estimating the effective temperature of land surface covered with vegetation canopy and to investigate how to compute the microwave radiative brightness temperature of land surface covered with vegetation canopy in considering of the canopy scatter effect.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 4895-4911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriëlle J. M. De Lannoy ◽  
Rolf H. Reichle

Abstract. Three different data products from the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission are assimilated separately into the Goddard Earth Observing System Model, version 5 (GEOS-5) to improve estimates of surface and root-zone soil moisture. The first product consists of multi-angle, dual-polarization brightness temperature (Tb) observations at the bottom of the atmosphere extracted from Level 1 data. The second product is a derived SMOS Tb product that mimics the data at a 40° incidence angle from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The third product is the operational SMOS Level 2 surface soil moisture (SM) retrieval product. The assimilation system uses a spatially distributed ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) with seasonally varying climatological bias mitigation for Tb assimilation, whereas a time-invariant cumulative density function matching is used for SM retrieval assimilation. All assimilation experiments improve the soil moisture estimates compared to model-only simulations in terms of unbiased root-mean-square differences and anomaly correlations during the period from 1 July 2010 to 1 May 2015 and for 187 sites across the US. Especially in areas where the satellite data are most sensitive to surface soil moisture, large skill improvements (e.g., an increase in the anomaly correlation by 0.1) are found in the surface soil moisture. The domain-average surface and root-zone skill metrics are similar among the various assimilation experiments, but large differences in skill are found locally. The observation-minus-forecast residuals and analysis increments reveal large differences in how the observations add value in the Tb and SM retrieval assimilation systems. The distinct patterns of these diagnostics in the two systems reflect observation and model errors patterns that are not well captured in the assigned EnKF error parameters. Consequently, a localized optimization of the EnKF error parameters is needed to further improve Tb or SM retrieval assimilation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bouchra Ait Hssaine ◽  
Olivier Merlin ◽  
Jamal Ezzahar ◽  
Nitu Ojha ◽  
Salah Er-raki ◽  
...  

Abstract. Thermal-based two-source energy balance modeling is very useful for estimating the land evapotranspiration (ET) at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. However, the land surface temperature (LST) is not sufficient for constraining simultaneously both soil and vegetation flux components in such a way that assumptions (on either the soil or the vegetation fluxes) are commonly required. To avoid such assumptions, a new energy balance model (TSEB-SM) was recently developed in Ait Hssaine et al. (2018a) to integrate the microwave-derived near-surface soil moisture (SM), in addition to the thermal-derived LST and vegetation cover fraction (fc). Whereas, TSEB-SM has been recently tested using in-situ measurements, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of TSEB-SM in real-life using 1 km resolution MODIS (Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) LST and fc data and the 1 km resolution SM data disaggregated from SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) observations by using DisPATCh. The approach is applied during a four-year period (2014–2018) over a rainfed wheat field in the Tensift basin, central Morocco, during a four-year period (2014–2018). The field was seeded for the 2014–2015 (S1), 2016–2017 (S2) and 2017–2018 (S3) agricultural season, while it was not ploughed (remained as bare soil) during the 2015–2016 (B1) agricultural season. The mean retrieved values of (arss, brss) calculated for the entire study period using satellite data are (7.32, 4.58). The daily calibrated αPT ranges between 0 and 1.38 for both S1 and S2. Its temporal variability is mainly attributed to the rainfall distribution along the agricultural season. For S3, the daily retrieved αPT remains at a mostly constant value (∼ 0.7) throughout the study period, because of the lack of clear sky disaggregated SM and LST observations during this season. Compared to eddy covariance measurements, TSEB driven only by LST and fc data significantly overestimates latent heat fluxes for the four seasons. The overall mean bias values are 119, 94, 128 and 181 W/m2 for S1, S2, S3 and B1 respectively. In contrast, these errors are much reduced when using TSEB-SM (SM and LST combined data) with the mean bias values estimated as 39, 4, 7 and 62 W/m2 for S1, S2, S3 and B1 respectively.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3223
Author(s):  
Hamed Adab ◽  
Renato Morbidelli ◽  
Carla Saltalippi ◽  
Mahmoud Moradian ◽  
Gholam Abbas Fallah Ghalhari

Soil moisture is an integral quantity parameter in hydrology and agriculture practices. Satellite remote sensing has been widely applied to estimate surface soil moisture. However, it is still a challenge to retrieve surface soil moisture content (SMC) data in the heterogeneous catchment at high spatial resolution. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the retrieval of SMC from remote sensing data, which is important in the planning and efficient use of land resources. Many methods based on satellite-derived vegetation indices have already been developed to estimate SMC in various climatic and geographic conditions. Soil moisture retrievals were performed using statistical and machine learning methods as well as physical modeling techniques. In this study, an important experiment of soil moisture retrieval for investigating the capability of the machine learning methods was conducted in the early spring season in a semi-arid region of Iran. We applied random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and elastic net regression (EN) algorithms to soil moisture retrieval by optical and thermal sensors of Landsat 8 and knowledge of land-use types on previously untested conditions in a semi-arid region of Iran. The statistical comparisons show that RF method provided the highest Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency value (0.73) for soil moisture retrieval covered by the different land-use types. Combinations of surface reflectance and auxiliary geospatial data can provide more valuable information for SMC estimation, which shows promise for precision agriculture applications.


2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade T. Crow ◽  
Emiel Van Loon

Abstract Data assimilation approaches require some type of state forecast error covariance information in order to optimally merge model predictions with observations. The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) dynamically derives such information through a Monte Carlo approach and the introduction of random noise in model states, fluxes, and/or forcing data. However, in land data assimilation, relatively little guidance exists concerning strategies for selecting the appropriate magnitude and/or type of introduced model noise. In addition, little is known about the sensitivity of filter prediction accuracy to (potentially) inappropriate assumptions concerning the source and magnitude of modeling error. Using a series of synthetic identical twin experiments, this analysis explores the consequences of making incorrect assumptions concerning the source and magnitude of model error on the efficiency of assimilating surface soil moisture observations to constrain deeper root-zone soil moisture predictions made by a land surface model. Results suggest that inappropriate model error assumptions can lead to circumstances in which the assimilation of surface soil moisture observations actually degrades the performance of a land surface model (relative to open-loop assimilations that lack a data assimilation component). Prospects for diagnosing such circumstances and adaptively correcting the culpable model error assumptions using filter innovations are discussed. The dual assimilation of both runoff (from streamflow) and surface soil moisture observations appears to offer a more robust assimilation framework where incorrect model error assumptions are more readily diagnosed via filter innovations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 2015-2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fairbairn ◽  
Alina Lavinia Barbu ◽  
Adrien Napoly ◽  
Clément Albergel ◽  
Jean-François Mahfouf ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study evaluates the impact of assimilating surface soil moisture (SSM) and leaf area index (LAI) observations into a land surface model using the SAFRAN–ISBA–MODCOU (SIM) hydrological suite. SIM consists of three stages: (1) an atmospheric reanalysis (SAFRAN) over France, which forces (2) the three-layer ISBA land surface model, which then provides drainage and runoff inputs to (3) the MODCOU hydro-geological model. The drainage and runoff outputs from ISBA are validated by comparing the simulated river discharge from MODCOU with over 500 river-gauge observations over France and with a subset of stations with low-anthropogenic influence, over several years. This study makes use of the A-gs version of ISBA that allows for physiological processes. The atmospheric forcing for the ISBA-A-gs model underestimates direct shortwave and long-wave radiation by approximately 5 % averaged over France. The ISBA-A-gs model also substantially underestimates the grassland LAI compared with satellite retrievals during winter dormancy. These differences result in an underestimation (overestimation) of evapotranspiration (drainage and runoff). The excess runoff flowing into the rivers and aquifers contributes to an overestimation of the SIM river discharge. Two experiments attempted to resolve these problems: (i) a correction of the minimum LAI model parameter for grasslands and (ii) a bias-correction of the model radiative forcing. Two data assimilation experiments were also performed, which are designed to correct random errors in the initial conditions: (iii) the assimilation of LAI observations and (iv) the assimilation of SSM and LAI observations. The data assimilation for (iii) and (iv) was done with a simplified extended Kalman filter (SEKF), which uses finite differences in the observation operator Jacobians to relate the observations to the model variables. Experiments (i) and (ii) improved the median SIM Nash scores by about 9 % and 18 % respectively. Experiment (iii) reduced the LAI phase errors in ISBA-A-gs but had little impact on the discharge Nash efficiency of SIM. In contrast, experiment (iv) resulted in spurious increases in drainage and runoff, which degraded the median discharge Nash efficiency by about 7 %. The poor performance of the SEKF originates from the observation operator Jacobians. These Jacobians are dampened when the soil is saturated and when the vegetation is dormant, which leads to positive biases in drainage and/or runoff and to insufficient corrections during winter, respectively. Possible ways to improve the model are discussed, including a new multi-layer diffusion model and a more realistic response of photosynthesis to temperature in mountainous regions. The data assimilation should be advanced by accounting for model and forcing uncertainties.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3192 ◽  
Author(s):  
George P. Petropoulos ◽  
Ionut Sandric ◽  
Dionissios Hristopulos ◽  
Toby Nahum Carlson

Earth Observation (EO) makes it possible to obtain information on key parameters characterizing interactions among Earth’s system components, such as evaporative fraction (EF) and surface soil moisture (SSM). Notably, techniques utilizing EO data of land surface temperature (Ts) and vegetation index (VI) have shown promise in this regard. The present study investigates, for the first time, the accuracy of one such technique, known as the “simplified triangle”, using Sentinel-3 EO data, acquired for 44 days in 2018 at three savannah FLUXNET sites in Spain. The technique was found to be able to predict both EF and SSM with reasonable accuracy when compared to collocated ground measurements. Comparisons performed for all days together showed relatively low Root Mean square Difference (RMSD) for both EF (0.191) and SSM (0.012 cm3 cm−3) and good correlation coefficients (R) of 0.721 and 0.577, respectively. Both EF and SSM were also largely in agreement with land cover and seasonal variability. The present study comprises the first detailed assessment of the “simplified triangle”, in this case, using Sentinel-3 data and in a Mediterranean setting. Findings, albeit preliminary, are of significant value regarding the use of the investigated technique as a tool of environmental management, and towards ongoing, worldwide efforts aiming at developing operationally relevant products based on the Ts/VI feature space and EO data based on new satellites such as Sentinel-3.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt ◽  
Paolo Nasta ◽  
Nima Ahmadian ◽  
Markus Kurtenbach ◽  
Christopher Conrad ◽  
...  

<p>Mapping near-surface soil moisture (<em>θ</em>) is of tremendous relevance for a broad range of environment-related disciplines and meteorological, ecological, hydrological and agricultural applications. Globally available products offer the opportunity to address <em>θ</em> in large-scale modelling with coarse spatial resolution such as at the landscape level. However, <em>θ</em> estimation at higher spatial resolution is of vital importance for many small-scale applications. Therefore, we focus our study on a small-scale catchment (MFC2) belonging to the “Alento” hydrological observatory, located in southern Italy (Campania Region). The goal of this study is to develop new machine-learning approaches to estimate high grid-resolution (about 17 m cell size) <em>θ</em> maps from mainly backscatter measurements retrieved from C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) based on Sentinel-1 (S1) images and from gridded terrain attributes. Thus, a workflow comprising a total of 48 SAR-based <em>θ</em> patterns estimated for 24 satellite overpass dates (revisit time of 6 days) each with ascendant and descendent orbits will be presented. To enable for the mapping, SAR-based <em>θ</em> data was calibrated with in-situ measurements carried out with a portable device during eight measurement campaigns at time of satellite overpasses (four overpass days in total with each ascendant and descendent satellite overpasses per day in November 2018). After the calibration procedure, data validation was executed from November 10, 2018 till March 28, 2019 by using two stationary sensors monitoring <em>θ</em> at high-temporal (1-min recording time). The specific sensor locations reflected two contrasting field conditions, one bare soil plot (frequently kept clear, without disturbance of vegetation cover) and one non-bare soil plot (real-world condition). Point-scale ground observations of <em>θ</em> were compared to pixel-scale (17 m × 17 m), SAR-based <em>θ</em> estimated for those pixels corresponding to the specific positions of the stationary sensors. Mapping performance was estimated through the root mean squared error (RMSE). For a short-term time series of <em>θ</em> (Nov 2018) integrating 136 in situ, sensor-based <em>θ</em> (<em>θ</em><sub>insitu</sub>) and 74 gravimetric-based <em>θ</em> (<em>θ</em><sub>gravimetric</sub>) measurements during a total of eight S1 overpasses, mapping performance already proved to be satisfactory with RMSE=0.039 m³m<sup>-</sup>³ and R²=0.92, respectively with RMSE=0.041 m³m<sup>-</sup>³ and R²=0.91. First results further reveal that estimated satellite-based <em>θ</em> patterns respond to the evolution of rainfall. With our workflow developed and results, we intend to contribute to improved environmental risk assessment by assimilating the results into hydrological models (e.g., HydroGeoSphere), and to support future studies on combined ground-based and SAR-based <em>θ</em> retrieval for forested land (future missions operating at larger wavelengths e.g. NISARL-band, Biomass P-band sensors).</p>


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