Use of Satellite-Derived Aerodynamic Roughness for Improved Meteorological and Atmospheric Transport Modeling

One example of an application of EOS science data is the computation of aerodynamic roughness for momentum and its ultimate application to meteorological and atmospheric transport modeling. Currently, data products derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and other sensors such as Landsat and ASTER are being used to estimate vegetation and urban (non-vegetated) aerodynamic roughness fields at local to regional scales. The goal is to incorporate those satellite-based roughnesses into both numerical meteorological models and atmospheric transport and dispersion models, to improve understanding and forecasting of wind and pressure fields, as well as plume dispersion. Once achieved, the results should be of practical benefit to society in the areas of improved weather and climate forecasting and better prediction of the dispersion of pollutants and other hazardous releases to the atmosphere.