Development of a european land data assimilation system to predict floods and droughts

Objective

The proposal designs, implements and tests a flexible system for estimating soil moisture content on a regional (European) to global scale. Use is made of high resolution precipitation, radiation, satellite derived surface temperature and atmospheric data, and data assimilation technologies developed in the context of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). The products of the system will be validated using regional and continental scale data sets. A number of case studies is devoted to assess the value of the system in improving flood forecasts from a routine NWP system coupled to hydrological models, to improve the seasonal hydrological cycle in NWP forecasts necessary for better predictions of serious drought events, and to improve the modelling of land surface processes in NWP and climate models.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-7. - RTD activities of a generic nature

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (9)