DAPE: Data Assimilation and Model Parameterization for Earth Science

We will develop methods and a software framework for data assimilation and parameterization (DAPE) using Unsupervised and Physics-Informed Machine-Learning (UML and PIML). We will apply DAPE to parameterize processes represented by the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) Hydrological Model. VIC is critical for simulating surface/subsurface water flow in several Earth System Models (ESMs). DAPE will be capable of assimilating and merging discrete in-situ (e.g., weather/gage stations, monitoring wells) and continuous (e.g., satellite/airborne/geophysics images) datasets. DAPE will apply ML to generate high-resolution spatiotemporal mappings of the meteorologic, surface water, and groundwater parameters (e.g., precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, surface runoff, soil moisture, temperature, and heat flux). The mappings will be applied to parameterize the surface water and groundwater flow in the VIC model. The parameterization will combine analyses of field measurements, remote data, and modeling outputs. In the next project phases, we will apply DAPE to develop a PIML model representing all energy/mass balance processes simulated in VIC. We will also address VIC limitations related to lateral surface-water/groundwater flow. We will also explore alternative models (PRMS, Noah-LSM, Noah-MP). We will evaluate the impacts of input and conceptual model uncertainties on the predictive uncertainties. We will also analyze NOAA/NASA satellite images representing land surface water and energy dynamics. We will also explore how the ML analyses of these datasets will impact the characterization, parameterization, and prediction of Earth system processes, with an emphasis on floods and droughts. These analyses will account for anthropogenic activities and climatic changes. We will apply our work to update the Livneh dataset.

Applications are aligned with the NASA/NOAA projects aimed to characterize Earth science processes using remote sensing and in-situ measurements. Some of the projects are NASA/NOAA’s Global Temperature/Climate initiative, Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission, Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS/JPSS-2), Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program (GOES), International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX), and Aqua Earth-observing satellite mission.

Or software will help industries develop smart and safe technologies related to water resources and support stakeholders to make scientifically-defensible decisions. Potential DAPE customers are also academia and research institutions. Target sectors include insurance, agriculture, water supply, food/energy production and other federal agencies including NOAA, DOE, EPA, and USDA.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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