Estimation of evapotranspiration and photosynthesis by assimilation of remote sensing data into SVAT models

Estimation of evapotranspiration and photosynthesis from remote sensing dat a frequently use soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer models (SVAT models). These models compute energy and mass transfer using descriptions of turbule nt, radiative, and water exchanges, as well as a description of stomatal co ntrol in relation with water vapor transfers and photosynthesis. Remote sen sing data mall provide information that is useful for driving SVAT models ( e.g., surface temperature, surface soil moisture, canopy structure, solar r adiation absorption, or albedo). Forcing or recalibration methods may be em ployed to combine remote sensing data and SWAT models. In this article a re view of SVAT models and remote sensing estimation of energy and mass fluxes is presented. Examples are given based on our work on two different SVAT m odels. Eventually, some of the difficulties in the combined use of multispe ctral remote sensing data and SVAT models are discussed. (C) Elsevier Scien ce Inc., 1999.