Integrated use of high and low resolution satellite data and crop growth models. final report

It was investigated whether high- and low-resolution satellite data can be applied to improve crop growth model simulations obtained with the Crop Growth Monitoring System (CGMS). Crop growth input parameters were estimated from vegetation index time-series. To verify the water balance calculations included in CGMS, they were compared with evapotranspiration maps derived from high- and low-resolution satellite data. Areal patterns obtained with both satellite systems agreed with each other. Such images are highly relevant to detecting large-scale drought damage during the growing season. Finally, the potential of microwave satellite measurements for crop growth monitoring was studied.