Assimilation of remotely sensed data into hydrologic modeling for ecosystem services assessment

Abstract

As the importance of ecosystem services is recognized by society, a growing interest in mathematical models as tools which provide necessary information for decision-making processes has arisen. The quantification of the ecosystem services associated to a region relies on the adequate simulation of hydrology, water quality and ecosystem dynamics. In this chapter we explore the evolution of hydrological models into more sophisticated tools which take advantage of the capabilities of remote sensing to characterize spatial trends at large scales. Physically based calculations distributed throughout the territory offer a reliable basis for further modeling, such as the quantification of regulation services related to the mediation of water flows, or to the maintenance of water quality conditions. In this framework, remote sensing constitutes a valuable source of data suitable to improve the results obtained from the models through assimilation. Some examples are given to illustrate the potential of the connection between distributed models and remote sensing to assess environmental issues, and highlight the benefits from this not so new but evolving source of data.