Sensitivity studies and their application to infer surface energy fluxes: prospects within the passive remote sensing

Using a model for data analysis satisfying accuracy is difficult to obtain but it is important to learn about the reliability of the calculations of a model. The applied data analysis scheme SESAT calculates surface energy fluxes using satellite data of NOAA AVHRR. Exemplary results are presented including a validation of the inferred values with ground truth data. The study considered the effects of an error in the assumed atmospheric conditions. Sensitivity studies via the variation of wind speed and relative humidity show a possible inaccuracy range of about 40 W/m2 for the latent heat flux. The first steps of an uncertainty analysis on the calculation scheme SESAT show the impact of using parameters which are not accurately determinable but required within the used equations.