SEA

Das Projekt "Soil moisture Estimation optimized for Alpine areas" (SEA) zielt darauf ab, die aktuellsten Algorithmen zu analysieren, die hauptsächlich auf Satellitendaten (insbesondere SAR-Daten) basieren, und ein Produkt zur Bewertung des Bodenwassergehalts der obersten Bodenschicht in alpinen Gebieten zu entwickeln.

Der Bodenwassergehalt ist ein Schlüsselparameter für viele hydrologische Prozesse, da er die Infiltrationsrate während Niederschlagsereignissen, die Abflussproduktion und die Evapotranspiration steuert. Gleichzeitig ist seine Schätzung wichtig für die Meteorologie, Klimatologie, Landwirtschaft und das Katastrophenmanagement.

Es wurden bereits viele Algorithmen entwickelt, die Daten mit grober räumlicher Auflösung nutzen und/oder auf eine globale Perspektive abzielen und im Durchschnitt eine gute Leistung erzielen.

Leider sind die alpinen Gebiete zu heterogen für Produkte mit grober räumlicher Auflösung, und die Geländemerkmale sind in Bezug auf Topografie und Bodenbedeckung sehr eigenartig. Dies bedeutet, dass die oben genannten Algorithmen in diesem Fall nicht sehr gut funktionieren. In Anbetracht dieser Überlegungen und des großen Interesses an Bodenfeuchtekarten für verschiedene Zwecke soll ein Algorithmus entwickelt werden, der die bestehenden Produkte zur Schätzung der Bodenfeuchte im speziellen Fall der alpinen Umgebung verbessert und/oder konsolidiert.

Kontaktpersonen: Giovanni Cuozzo, Mariapina Castelli, Claudia Notarnicola giovanni.cuozzo@eurac.edu, mariapina.castelli@eurac.edu, claudia.notarnicola@eurac.edu

This project aims at implementing an algorithm based mainly on satellite data with the purpose of producing soil moisture content maps tailored on the Alps.

The experience gained by EURAC in previous years and projects on this topic will be exploited together with the up-to-date products freely available to improve the estimation in terms of the specific characteristic of the alpine soil in terms of:

• Spatial heterogeneity
• Land cover types

The activities of the project are developed with a view to preserving the knowledge already developed at EURAC on this topic, satisfying the many requests of SMC maps over the Alps with different purposes, and in preparation for participation in an open ESA project. Moreover, part of these activities will be developed jointly with the interTwin project.

The structure of the WP of the project is the following:

WP1- Methods and products state of the art review and testing

WP2- Prototype implementation

WP3- Test & Validation of the prototype

WP4- Analysis of the result and Algorithm Refinement

WP5- Preparation for a project proposal

WP6- Update and maintenance of the current EURAC SMC product

WP7- Dissemination

As a first step a literature review on the state of the art will be carried out considering the characteristics of the different types of the most up-to-date methods. The selected freely available products will be tested on different test areas of interest on the Alps, selected in terms of topography, land cover types, and availability of ground data for validation purposes. Regarding this point the stations located in Val Mazia represent an example of a long time series of measurements collected by automatic stations in the alpine environment. The most suitable methodology will be selected and, as consequence, satellite data and auxiliary information will be selected and prepared.

Starting from the experience gained in the past with the algorithms developed by EURAC, the prototype of a new algorithm will be implemented, tested and validated on selected alpine areas. Analysis of the results will be exploited for refinement and improvement of the algorithm with the purpose of developing a new SMC product.

The research question on the adaptation of SMC methods to Alpine areas, also considering the challenging problem of estimation under tree canopies, will lead to the submission of a scientific paper. Possibly, also other opportunities of dissemination will be evaluated like the participation to conferences to present the work developed.

The current SMC product will be updated and maintained to guarantee the continuity of the data delivery to the end users.

In collaboration with the ACEO group an implementation of the algorithm on a dedicated platform will be carried out.