Land Surface Satellite Remote Sensing Gap Analysis

摘要

During latter half of the twentieth century the concept that the behavior of the planet Earth can only be understood in terms of coupling between dynamic systems in atmosphere, solid Earth, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere was launched. The study of these interactions has become known as Earth System Science. The land surface plays a driving role in Earth System Science through its dominant biospheric and anthropogenic populations. It plays a key connecting role between systems, for example, interacting with the atmosphere through exchange of heat, momentum and trace gases. It serves as a central but complex stage in the carbon and water cycles. Missions to study the land surface are very important and will be increasingly high impact. This paper examines the challenges and gaps in observations of the Land Surface from satellite remote sensing. Satellite observations are required to monitor change, to allow the causes of change to be diagnosed and to understand in detail the current state. However, these observations must also be integrated to have greatest impact, flying in formation or as part of an overall system can yield a much greater dividend than individual measurements. Hence there are a large number of application areas of the land surface, which are increasing at a rapid rate. Fortunately, there is a strong link between variables observed as useful and products, which can be used in application services. Therefore science gaps tend to map into application service gaps, although application areas also demand long-term operational services usually.