Objectif To develop a technique to estimate surface soil moisture contentat the catchment scale based on satellite active microwave dataproducts. To test and validate field-scale, subcatchment-scaleand catchment-scale hydrologic models for the estimation ofspatio-temporal characteristics of surface soil moisture.Data from existing spaceborne platforms (ERS-1 and J-ERS-1satellite) and their on board active microwave sensors (SyntheticAperture Radar operating in C and L band) will be used. SARinversion algorithms for soil moisture derivation will be tested,validated and if necessary improved, for use with data from thementioned platforms.The hydrologic modelling strategy includes both numerical andconceptual approaches. The information obtained from remotesensing techniques and hydrologic models about the surface soilmoisture at different scales will be used to generate soilmoisture maps at the catchment scale.The research will be conducted in three regions in Europe:Brittany (France), Flanders (Belgium) and Tuscany (Italy).Within each of these regions, experimental catchments areselected for detailed study. A fourth test site near Naples(Italy) is selected as a SAR-soil moisture calibration test site.During the growing season (May-September) and at the time of thesatellite's overpass field surveys will be conducted to collectall relevant information about the surface characteristicsrequired to calibrate the inversion algorithms: soil type,texture, roughness, moisture content, as well as vegetationcharacteristics: row direction and distance, plant density,phenological stage, plant cover, plant height, leaf area index,canopy structure.During the spring and summer period of the two years of theproject detailed hydrologic data will be collected for theexperimental catchments. Based on these data numerical andconceptual hydrologic models will be calibrated to produceestimates of surface soil moisture conditions. During thatperiod a number of SAR images (both ERS-1 and J-ERS-1) will becollected. This will allow for a comparison between remotelysensed soil moisture estimates and estimates based upon thehydrologic models. In the catchments Spot XS data areinterpreted to characterize land cover conditions.Due to the high amount of geographically-related information(topography, soil map, vegetation and land use, SAR images,observed, simulated and estimated soil moisture) which will berequired, a database for each of the four test sites will bedeveloped by means of geographic information systems (GIS). Theknowledge gained from the experiments and the resulting SARinversion relationships will be used, together with the catchmentscale hydrologic models, to produce seasonal soil moisturemaps. Champ scientifique natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesphysical geographycartographygeographic information systemsengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetary geologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencessoil sciencesland-based treatment Programme(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Thème(s) 0102 - Anthropogenic climate change Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur GENT UNIVERSITY Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 653,Coupure Links 653 9000 GENT Belgique Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (5) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire CENTRO DI RICERCA SVILUPPO E STUDI SUPERIORI IN SARDEGNA Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse VI Strada Ovest Z.I. Macchiareddu 09010 UTA (CAGLIARI) Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc 35042 Rennes Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée POLYTECHNIC OF MILAN Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 20133 MILANO Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF LANCASTER Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Bailrigg LA1 4YQ LANCASTER /HIGH BANTHAM Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Via Università 100 80055 Portici Napoli Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée