Posted on 14-11-2019 | By: Yann KERR |
Category : L3
Tags: CESBIO, level 3, SM Retrieval, SMOS, vegetation opacity retrieval
The SMOS level 3 soil moisture was developed to take advantage of several revisits of the same point in 7 days. This multi-orbit retrieval was supposed to stabilize the VOD and so to improve the SM retrieval quality. Unfortunately, it was not the case leading to poor performances of the L3SM when compared to other soil moisture product.
This was not good so….
So we have worked on this issue for some time to identify the issue and correct it . We found the issue (Arnaud and Philippe) and the modification has been implemented in the operational processor since mid July 2019. The figure below presents the time series of level 3 SM and VOD L3 (in blue) for a site in Australia. Before the modification (left hand side of the vertical dotted line), one can noticed spurious peaks of SM (indicated by green circles) that are not present in other SM products (ESA level 2 in orange, SMOS IC in red). These poor retrievals are also noticeable in the VOD plot, where high values are reported.
Figure showing the temporal behaviour of soil moisture and VOD retrievals before and after the « bug » correction in July 2019.
With the correction, SMOS level 3 performs normally. A complete reprocessing with the corrected algorithm will be done in 2020, taking advantage of the general reprocessing with the new L1 and L2 processors.
Arnaud Mialon CESBIO
Posted on 20-02-2019 | By: Yann KERR |
Category : CATDS, Data, L1, L2, L3, L4, Non classé, Satellite
Tags: Brightness temperature, CATDS, DPGS, global cover, L2, L4, level 3, Ocean, reprocessing, sea surface salinity, SMOS, snow, Soil moisture, SSS, vegetation opacity retrieval
I am glad to inform you that yesterday the Program Board for Earth Observation (PB-EO) of ESA voted the SMOS mission extension following the ACEO (Advisory Committee for Earth Observation) review report:
« Member states’ delegations were very positive about both the achievements so far as well as the detailed plan being put forward for the extension. «
CNES (the French Space Agency also funding the mission exploitation), has already granted funding until 2021 (actually 2019 with extension to 2021 pending PB-EO vote which we now have).
So, should everything go nicely with the satellite and platform, we have data guaranteed until 2021!
Congratulations and many thanks to all the actors of this success.
SMOS is now over 9 year old and still going strong by the way!
Yann
Posted on 11-10-2018 | By: Yann KERR |
Category : CATDS, L2, L3, Ocean
Tags: animation, CATDS, CESBIO, global cover, level 3, Ocean, sea surface salinity, SM Retrieval, SMOS, Soil moisture, SSS
This animation was prepared by Dimitry Khvorostyanov from LOCEAN with SMOS data from CATDS (Soil moisture level 3 and Ocean salinity debiased V3)
Enjoy
Posted on 14-06-2018 | By: Ahmad AL BITAR |
Category : CATDS, Data, L3, L4, position opening
Post-doctoral position
Water extent mapping from data fusion of L-Band radiometry and radar
Location: Centre d’Etudes Spatiale de la Biosphère (CESBIO), Toulouse, France
Duration: 18 months start before November 2018
Description:
Interested in creating state of the art remote sensing products in hydrology for existing and future satellite mission, then join us ! In the framework of the future Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), a joint mission from French (CNES), American (NASA), Canadian (CSA), and British (UKSA) space agencies, CNES is developing a down-stream application service that will also integrate products from contemporary satellites. In 2008 the CNES had already developed a downstream centre (CATDS www.catds.fr) for the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission which is providing today high level products for the mission. You will join the Microwave-SMOS group in the Observation Systems team at CESBIO. You will be under the supervision of Ahmad Al bitar (Ph.D.) who si in charge of high end (L4) products for CATDS and member of the Science Team of SWOT. You will contribute to existing collaborations with other institutions: LEGOS, GET, ECOLAB, Univ. Purpan. You will be in charge of developing operationally ready products for the monitoring of inland water surfaces (wetlands, floodplains…) by extending the domain of application of existing algorithms and improving their resolution. These areas represent a great challenge and raise important scientific questions related to the water cycle, biodiversity and carbon cycle. Recent studies at CESBIO demonstrated the advantage of the use of L-Band for the monitoring of water surfaces under dense tropical forests. The final objective is to enrich the existing databases at global scale (CCI Water bodies, GSWO, GIEMS) and to make available a validation dataset for the future SWOT mission.
Actions:
> Adapting the retrieval algorithms for global application using L-Band brightness temperatures.
> Writing scientific papers, presenting results at conferences and project key-points.
Required Skills:
> Advanced knowledge of one programming language Matlab, Python using geospatial datasets.
> Proven writing and communication skills.
> Motivated, innovative and team-player.
Links:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317012733_Mapping_Dynamic_Water_Fraction_under_the_Tropical_Rain_Forests_of_the_Amazonian_Basin_from_SMOS_Brightness_Temperatures
Contact:
e-mail to : ahmad.albitar@cesbio.cnes.fr & santiago.penaluque@cnes.fr
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