Coordinator :Hans-Jürgen Bolle
The general objective of the RESMEDES project is identical with that of its precursors, the EFEDA remote sensing component and RESRAPS : to foster in the context of "Global Change" research the use of the remote sensing techniques for the study of the land-surface processes in semi-arid regions where thread of desertification exists. The basis is to be established to quantify by quasi-operational long term application of satellite data specifically those changes of the Mediterranean land surfaces, which may lead to land degradation and desertification. For this purpose data sets of different satellite sensors finally are to be combined into Land-surface Change Indicator (LCI), which is the objective of the follow-on project RESYSMED.
Major emphasis at this phase lied upon testing various parameters that can be derived from observations made in space with respect to their significance in detecting changes. The approach is a physical one as it aims at not only describing the state of the surface but quantifying the processes which are responsible for the interaction between the surface and the atmosphere and to build the bridge from in situ measurements to the scale climate models. Beside inferring information about the variable state of the vegetation cover - that is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite to quantify land degradation - a major goal is to determine by combining satellite data with models the energy budget at the surface and the soil moisture. The latent heat flux (evapotranspiration) in this respect is of predominant interest because of its eminent importance under these semi-arid conditions for water budget, aridification , and thus desertification.
contact :
Coordinator : Univ.-Prof. a. D. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Bolle
Stücklenstraße 18c
81247 München
Tel./Fax: (+49) - 89 - 811 0593
web site :
http://www.iata.fi.cnr.it/resysmed/