Showcase Authors

Author: Massimo Menenti

E-mail: M.Menenti@tudelft.nl

Affiliations: Delft University of Technology

Member Country/Participating organization: France - CEOP AEGIS

Showcase Description

Showcase title: A prototype observation system for water resources in South-East Asia.

Showcase Description: The project "Coordinated Asia-European long-term Observing system of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau hydrometeorological processes and the Asian-monsoon systEm with Ground satellite Image data and numerical Simulations (CEOP - AEGIS)" is funded by the European Commission under the FP7 Theme Environment (Menenti et al., 2008). The goal is two-fold: a) to construct out of existing ground measurements and current/future satellites an observing system to determine and monitor the water yield of the Plateau; b) to monitor the evolution of snow, vegetation cover, surface wetness and surface fluxes and analyze the linkage with convective activity, (extreme) precipitation events and the Asian Monsoon. Three main elements are foreseen.

  • A) Observations of the terms of the water balance: precipitation, meltwater from snow and glaciers, changes in soil water content and evaporation for a period of three years will be generated by integrating ground and satellite measurements on weekly and monthly basis. Radiative transfer models and algorithms are being developed for different regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum.
  • B)A distributed hydrological model to integrate measurements and compute the water balance of the Plateau has been developed and applied to generate daily streamflow at selected locations on the seven major rivers of SE Asia. Interactions of land surface hydrology with convective activity and the Asian Monsoon are being investigated by using a meso-scale atmospheric model.
  • C) Time-series of image data are being used to demonstrate a Drought and a Flood Early Warning Systems. The system relies on an existing and expanding network of in-situ observatories and on spaceborne observing systems for which data continuity is guaranteed. A Database Management System has been put in place in Lhasa. Snow cover and Snow Water Equivalen time series archived in the Chinese Glacier Information System and at the CAREERI - CAS archive have been analyzed to assess trends in snow cover and snow water equivalent over the last 20 years. Gap-free time series of LST, fAPAR and VI have been generated and analyzed to evaluate indicators of drought-related anomalies in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas. A case study was done for the severe drought events occurred in China in 2006. The study shows that VI, fAPAR and LST respond consistently to climate forcing (rainfall, air temperature etc.).

Showcase team: The Team includes 110 Members belonging to 18 Organizations in 8 Countries. A large part of the Team is located in China at 6 Organizations

Institution Country
University of Strasbourg France
International Institute for Geo-information science and Earth Observation The Netherlands
ARIESpace Italy
University of Bayreuth Germany
Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre The Netherlands
University of Valencia Spain
Institute for Tibetan Plateau Research, Lhasa, Tibet China
China Meteorological Administration, Beijing China
Beijing Normal University, Beijing China
National Institute of Technology, Rorkee India
University of Tsukuba Japan
WaterWatch The Netherlands
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Enginering Research Institute, Lanzhou, Gansu China
University of Ferrara Italy
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research CAS, Beijing China
Institute for Remote Sensing Applications CAS, Beijing China
FutureWater The Netherlands
University of Technology Delft The Netherlands

Showcase URL: http://www.ceop-aegis.org/.

Showcase Justification

Added Value of GEO: The GEO Secretariat helped shape the original objectives. The GEO Water Tasks provided a precise framework to set the project, including the partnership

Added value of STC: Participation to STC meetings led to establish broader international relationships, make the project known to a broader community and position the project internationally in an effective way.

Earth Observation Summit Themes: Water Cycle, Droughts and Climate

Cape Town Declaration:

Global Goals and Assessments: The project is developing time series of ground and satellite observations, algorithms for the quantitative analysis of satellite observations, atmospheric and hydrological models to analyze the water cycle and its evolution over a large part of Asia.

Filling gaps: The project is putting together a prototype observing system relying heavily on local advanced observing infrastructure, which could be implemented in other regions of the world.

Strong future GEOSS: System to integrated very diverse ground and satellite observations into a comprehensive data set on the continental water cycle.

Links to high-profile issues: Water sharing among the countries around the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; better forecast of monsoon and intense precipitation in China.

Cross Cutting Nature: The project combines observation and analysis of land surface processes, land-atmosphere interactions and monsoon, assessment and monitoring of continental water resources.

Capacity Building: There is an estimated 50 PhD theses in progress at the participating organizations in the framework of the project. A dedicated capacity building program will be carried out on the basis of project activities and results