What's Happening?
NASA's Biospheric Science Branch is actively working to improve the understanding of Earth's ecosystems by integrating SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) observations into the CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford) ecosystem model. The primary objective is to reduce
uncertainties in global and regional carbon flux estimates and wildfire emissions. Chris Potter, a member of the SWAT Science Team, is leading efforts to assimilate daily soil freeze-thaw state data from SMAP into the CASA model. This approach aims to replace the current empirical method based on monthly degree-days with more precise aggregate observations of soil thawing and freezing times.
Why It's Important?
The integration of SMAP data into ecosystem models is crucial for enhancing the accuracy of carbon flux estimates, which are vital for understanding climate change impacts. By improving these models, NASA can better predict changes in the biosphere and atmosphere, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate climate change effects. This research supports NASA's Earth Science mission, which focuses on monitoring and predicting environmental changes, thereby contributing to global efforts in climate science and policy-making.
