This book is unique in its ambitious and comprehensive coverage of earth system land surface characterization, from observation and modeling to data assimilation, including recent developments in theory and techniques, and novel application cases. The contributing authors are the active research scientists, and many of them are internationally leading experts in their areas, ensuring that the text is authoritative. This book includes four parts that are logically connected from data, modeling, data assimilation that integrates data and models to applications. Land data assimilation is the...