A prototype observation system for water resources in South - East Asia: Ground and space measurements to support hydrological and atmospheric modeling of the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau

The project "Coordinated Asia-European longterm Observing system of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau hydrometeorological processes and the Asian-monsoon systEm with Ground satellite Image data and numerical Simulations (CEOP - AEGIS)" is funded by the European Commission under the FP7 Theme Environment. The goal is two-fold: a) to construct out of existing ground measurements and current /future satellites an observing system to determine and monitor the water yield of the Plateau; b) to monitor the evolution of snow, vegetation cover, surface wetness and surface fluxes and analyse the linkage with convective activity, (extreme) precipitation events and the Asian Monsoon. Three main elements are foreseen. a) Observations of the terms of the water balance: precipitation, meltwater from snow and glaciers, changes in soil water content and evaporation for a period of three years will be generated by integrating ground and satellite measurements on weekly and monthly basis. Radiative transfer models and algorithms will be developed for different regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum. b) The water balance of the Plateau will be calculated with a distributed hydrological model. Interactions of land surface hydrology with convective activity and the Asian Monsoon will be investigated by using a meso-scale atmospheric model. c) The time-series of image data will be used to demonstrate a Drought and a Flood Early Warning Systems. The system will rely on an existing and expanding network of observatories and on spaceborne observing systems for which data continuity is guaranteed. A Database Management System will be put in place in Lhasa.