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Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)
This project is focused on developing a mission concept for an active microwave satellite mission to enable improved evapotranspiration (ET) modeling. We propose to conduct the research necessary to define a satellite mission optimized to retrieve high temporal resolution and medium to high spatial resolution Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD) and the related parameter Vegetation Water Content (VWC), important indicators of vegetation state that contain information on plant transpiration not available through exsiting microwave, visible or thermal remote sensing methods.
Evapotranspiration cannot be measured directly and remains one of the most uncertain and most difficult to quantify components of the hydrological cycle. If successful, this project will raise the Technology Readiness Level of a mission concept for acquiring Vegetation Optical Depth and Vegetation Water Content to support a larger effort to improve estimations plant transpiration. Improved plant transpiration estimates can eventually lead to improved weather and climate forecasts.
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