<h2>Large-Scale Near-Surface Moisture Variation</h2>
  <p ><strong>Researcher:</strong> Kazuyuki Saito<br />
      <strong>Funding Source: </strong>NSF through &ldquo;visiting scientist&rdquo; account<br />
      Collaborator: A. Bartsch (IPF/Technical University of Vienna)</p>
    <p > The project goal is to simulate the amount and variations of near-surface moisture amount, and
      compare them with the satellite-observed estimates.</p>
    <p > A global land-atmosphere-ocean climate model with physically based thaw/freeze processes is
      used to simulate the near-surface wetness, which is compared with the satellite data provided for
      the Data User Element (DUE) permafrost project by the European Space Agency (ESA).</p>
    <p > The anticipated results are quantitative and qualitative assessments of the performance of both
      sides (the model and the satellite product).</p>
    <p > The contribution to synthesis or integration of arctic science will be the mprovement and validation
      of the thermo-hydrological and freeze/thaw processes in the physical terrestrial schemes.</p>