On coupling a regional ecosystem model with satellite derivedparameters: case of a Sahelian grassland

摘要

The assessment of vegetation activity in the continental biosphereis possible using remote sensing techniques. However, its representationby remotely sensed empirically derived parameters forbids a satisfactoryanalysis of important climatic and physiological factors affectingvegetation activity. An alternative approach relies on the combined useof remote sensing spectral measurements with an ecosystem model whichdescribes the relevant processes of the soil-vegetation-atmospheresystem. After a brief description of the model developed for thatpurpose, and its validation, the paper gives a concise outlining of thefirst steps followed to perform the coupling of the model with remotesensing data