TN-62 : Acquisition of land surface parameters for GCM

Abstract

Atmospheric models are coupled to the land surface through the hydrological cycle, rain carries water from the atmosphere and evapotranspiration returns it to the atmosphere. The studies of the atmosphere-land surface coupled models have currently received considerable attention. However, the lack of data availability has been the main difficulty in development or coupled models. The observations made from satellites have proven to be a great tool for derivation of land surface parameters for the use in General Circulation Models (GCMs). The entire area of determination of land surface quantities from satellite observations though apparently feasible for most, is still in the research and developmental stage, with the one exception of snow cover extent.. This technical note gives a review of status of land surface parameters as precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, vegetation index, surface albedo and surface emissivity and snow cover and depth from satellites to be used in GCMs. The acquisition of land surface parameters in India from satellites has also been discussed.