Evapotranspiration, latent and sensible heat fluxes dataset within the CM SAF: present and future

The Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) of EUMETSAT develops satellite-derived climate data records to support climate monitoring and research. In 2024, CM SAF extended its product portfolio with a Climate Data Record (CDR) of land surface variables based on two sensors of the Meteosat suite of geostationary satellites: the Meteosat Visible and InfraRed Imager (MVIRI) and the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI). The CM SAF LANDFLUX Ed. 1 provides nearly 40 years (1983–2020) of parameters describing surface states and radiation fluxes, including the Surface Radiation Balance, Cloud Fractional Cover, Land Surface Temperature, Evapotranspiration (ET), and the Latent (LE) and Sensible (H) Heat Fluxes. This dataset constitutes one of the longest satellite-based records of land surface energy and water fluxes derived from geostationary observations. Close collaboration between CM SAF, the Land Surface Analysis (LSA) SAF and the EUMETSAT Secretariat ensures the uniqueness of this CDR and the consistency among its parameters.
This contribution focuses on ET and the LE and H fluxes. These parameters are retrieved using an adapted version of the LSA SAF methodology, itself derived from the Tiled ECMWF Scheme for Surface Exchanges over Land (TESSEL). Observations from MVIRI and SEVIRI onboard Meteosat First and Second Generation (MFG and MSG) are used as inputs for all radiation components. CDR parameters are provided hourly, daily and monthly (and monthly mean diurnal cycle) at a spatial resolution of 0.05 degrees (approximately 5.5 km), covering the Meteosat disk (65° N–65° S and 65° W–65° E).  The combination of high temporal resolution and multi-decadal coverage at 0.05° enables robust analyses of diurnal to interannual variability of land surface fluxes at continental scales, supporting climate monitoring and model evaluation, as well as hydrological and surface energy and water-balance applications.

The adopted methodology, validation results, and selected study case are presented, together with future perspectives focusing on the development of a quasi-global prototype (“GeoRing”). LE and H are validated against in situ observations (30 Fluxnet2015 and ICOS stations) and inter-compared with reanalysis (ERA5, GLDAS) and satellite-based products (LSA SAF, GLEAM). Errors are comparable to those reported in the literature, with daily biases of −10.8 W m⁻² (~0.38 mm/d) and −2.6 W m⁻², and daily unbiased RMSEs of 24.7 W m⁻² (~0.87 mm/d) and 34.1 W m⁻² for LE and H, respectively. The LANDFLUX Ed. 1 CDR represents a significant step toward long-term monitoring of land surface energy and water exchanges from geostationary satellites and is publicly available via the CM SAF website (https://wui.cmsaf.eu/safira/action/viewDoiDetails?acronym=SLF_METEOSAT_V001) to support scientific research and operational climate services.