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Evaluation of Ten Methods for Initializing a Land Surface ModelLand surface models (LSMs) are computer programs, similar to weather and climate prediction models, which simulate the stocks and fluxes of water (including soil moisture, snow, evaporation, and runoff) and energy (including the temperature of and sensible heat released from the soil) after they arrive on the land surface as precipitation and sunlight. It is not currently possible to measure all of the variables of interest everywhere on Earth with sufficient accuracy and space-time resolution. Hence LSMs have been developed to integrate the available observations with our understanding of the physical processes involved, using powerful computers, in order to map these stocks and fluxes as they change in time. The maps are used to improve weather forecasts, support water resources and agricultural applications, and study the Earth"s water cycle and climate variability. NASA"s Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) project facilitates testing of several different LSMs with a variety of input datasets (e.g., precipitation, plant type).
Document ID
20080045782
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rodell, M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Houser, P. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Berg, A. A.
(Guelph Univ. Ontario, Canada)
Famiglietti, J. S.
(California Univ. Irvine, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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