Assimilation of vegetation parameters and snow cover derived from EO in the hydrological model PROMET in the frame of CLIMB project

An exact parameterization of vegetation is important for correct hydrological modeling since transpiration is a key variable in the water cycle. A data assimilation strategy, using spatially and temporally distributed vegetation parameters derived from Landsat satellite images to improve calculations of the hydrological model PROMET, is established and implemented by VISTA within the frame of the EU FP7 project CLIMB (Climate Induced Changes on the Hydrology of Mediterranean Basins) in the catchment of the river Noce (Italy). Also, a comparison of modeled snow cover and snow cover maps derived from satellite imagery shows advantages and disadvantages of assimilating snow cover maps from remote sensing in a hydrological model.