The Satellite Climatology Group (SCG) started its activities in 2000. The main objective of its research is the application of remote sensing techniques to the study of climatic processes, especially those related to radiation, energy and water balances at the Earth's surface.

The GCS is currently active in the framework of the following space missions: GERB (Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget), EUMETSAT; SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity), ESA; EarthCARE (Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer), ESA/JAXA;CERES (Clouds and the Earths Radiant Energy System), NASA; EPS/MetOp (EUMETSAT Polar System), EUMETSAT; SMAP (Soil Moisture Active and Passive), NASA; OLCI (Ocean and Land Colour Instrument), Copernicus; GNSS-R (Global Navigation Satellite Systems - Reflectometry) - PARIS (PAssive Reflectometry and Interferometry System), ESA.

The installation of the Valencia Anchor Station (joint Generalitat Valenciana - Universitat de València Infrastructure Grant "Estación Meteorológica de Referencia para Datos y Productos de Teledetección (ANCHOR STATION), Nov 2001) and the award of the Calibration/Validation Area Project for Large Scale Field Experiments with SEVIRI and GERB; (SCALES, SEVIRI and GERB Cal/val Area for Large-scale ExperimentS) of the National Space Research Plan, marked the beginning of the development of methodologies for the validation of low spatial resolution remote sensing data and products.

The GCS, with previous experience since the late 1980s, understands that the best way to carry out these activities is in the framework of what in Remote Sensing is known as Anchor Stations. Thus, thanks to the constant support of the Uviversitat de València and the Generalitat Valenciana (General Directorates for Climate Change and Environmental Quality, Department of the Environment), this research group has managed to develop the Valencia and Alacant Anchor Stations.

The original work developed at the Anchor Stations is to provide surface values of parameters of interest integrated over more or less extensive areas, depending on the spatial resolution of the sensor. In net radiation and radiative balance studies, the GCS has organised the GERB Validation Campaigns with Surface Measurements at the Valencia Anchor Station (Jun 2003, Feb 2004, Sep 2005 and Aug 2006).

It has also developed the First GERB Validation Campaign with Surface Measurements at the Alacant Anchor Station (Nov-Dec 2008). Due to the large pixel size of GERB, and in the context of intercomparison experiments between GERB and CERES, the GCS uses PAPS (Programming Azimuth Plane Scanning) observations, specifically programmed from the CERES Science Team on our Anchor Stations with a pixel size of 20 km in diameter. Similarly, in relation to soil moisture studies and in the framework of the validation of SMOS and SMAP, the area has been characterised through a series of field experiments, aeroplane campaigns, installation of a network of sensors to measure soil moisture, etc. These campaigns have been: EuroSTARRS-2001, Nov 2001; SMOS REFLEX-03 SMOS REFerence pixel L-band EXperiment, Jun-Jul 2003; SMOS REFLEX06, Jul-Nov 2006; SMOS-MELBEX-1 Mediterranean Ecosystem L-Band characterisation EXperiment, scrubland, May 2005; Feb 2006; SMOS-MELBEX-2 (vines), Mar-Nov 2007;SMOS-MELBEX-3 (SMOS validation), Sep 2009 to present;SMOS Validation Rehearsal Campaign, April - May 2008; Combined Airborne Radio-instruments for Ocean and Land Studies (CAROLS). SMOS Cal/Val Aircraft Campaign, Apr-May 2009 (CNES); (CAROLS). Cal/Val aircraft campaign for GCOS, Apr-Jun 2010 (ESA/CNES). Since Sep 2009, the GCS has been using the ELBARA-II radiometer to assist in the validation of SMOS.

Collaborator

• Edwin Loarte Cadenas - Universitat de València

• University education
• Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
• Investigation activities