![\"\"](\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/met-darc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2025\/05\/TCCAS.png\")
Data Assimilation<\/strong><\/h4>\nThe TCASS computer code is wrapped in a data assimilation system that can take in a variety of data types. The data assimilation wrapper can also adjust the parameters of the D&B model to provide the best match between the model outputs and the observed data (e.g., the flux of carbon between the land and the atmosphere), The Data Assimilation routines require differentiated versions of the model code so, as new parts of the model are added, all necessary tools \u00a0for differentiation are included at the same time. This means that Data Assimilation is always available for the latest model version.<\/p>\n
The development of TCCAS was funded by the European Space Agency, under several projects, with the goal of allowing it to exploit a range of different satellite data. To that end, TCCAS contains observation operators (see my previous blog post<\/a>) that represent low-level observations from various satellites, including vegetation optical depth<\/a> and solar induced fluorescence<\/a>. Future developments will address observations from some satellites that have yet to be launched, such as FLEX. FLEX<\/a> will be the first dedicated satellite mission to observe solar induced fluorescence from plants and will provide important information about how much carbon they are taking up.<\/p>\nApplications for TCCAS<\/strong><\/h4>\nTCCAS is ideally suited to assessing carbon budgets on regional to global scales. Given sufficient data to constrain it, it can predict how much carbon is being taken up by terrestrial vegetation, such as forests. Therefore, using TCCAS we can predict how much carbon will be absorbed under different land management regimes, for example afforestation.<\/p>\n
TCCAS can also be used at the site scale to examine ecosystem level process in detail. This has been done for a handful of experimental forest sites where large amounts of data are routinely collected. Where such data exists, D&B can \u00a0help to understand questions such as \u2018how have droughts affected the carbon balance of a forest?\u2019 or \u2018how do cold temperatures affect photosynthesis?’.<\/p>\n
TCCAS can also be used for something known as observing system simulation experiments (or \u201cOSSEs\u201d). For example, if a new satellite was proposed to study the carbon cycle, TCCAS can be used to assess the impact of the new satellite observations in terms of the model\u2019s ability to constrain carbon sequestration rates. It\u2019s also possible to examine \u201cwhat if\u201d scenarios such as the impact of clouds or a change in satellite orbit on the model predictions.<\/p>\n
Can anyone use it?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn short, yes! TCCAS is freely available for download. Sample datasets used to run the model and perform assimilation experiments are also included. There is an extensive user manual which is being continually updated. The manual includes instructions on how to install the software and how to run some pre-configured examples. There are also occasional training events to help get people started using the software.<\/p>\n
Where can I find out more?<\/strong><\/h4>\nMore information is available on the TCCAS web page: https:\/\/tccas.inversion-lab.com\/<\/a><\/p>\nA recent peer reviewed scientific paper describes the D&B model in detail: Knorr, Wolfgang, et al. “A comprehensive land-surface vegetation model for multi-stream data assimilation, D&B v1. 0.”\u00a0Geoscientific Model Development<\/em> 18.7 (2025): 2137-2159.\u00a0https:\/\/gmd.copernicus.org\/articles\/18\/2137\/2025\/<\/a><\/p>\nAnd another paper describing the data assimilation system will be published in due course.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Applications for TCCAS<\/strong><\/h4>\nTCCAS is ideally suited to assessing carbon budgets on regional to global scales. Given sufficient data to constrain it, it can predict how much carbon is being taken up by terrestrial vegetation, such as forests. Therefore, using TCCAS we can predict how much carbon will be absorbed under different land management regimes, for example afforestation.<\/p>\n
TCCAS can also be used at the site scale to examine ecosystem level process in detail. This has been done for a handful of experimental forest sites where large amounts of data are routinely collected. Where such data exists, D&B can \u00a0help to understand questions such as \u2018how have droughts affected the carbon balance of a forest?\u2019 or \u2018how do cold temperatures affect photosynthesis?’.<\/p>\n
TCCAS can also be used for something known as observing system simulation experiments (or \u201cOSSEs\u201d). For example, if a new satellite was proposed to study the carbon cycle, TCCAS can be used to assess the impact of the new satellite observations in terms of the model\u2019s ability to constrain carbon sequestration rates. It\u2019s also possible to examine \u201cwhat if\u201d scenarios such as the impact of clouds or a change in satellite orbit on the model predictions.<\/p>\n
Can anyone use it?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn short, yes! TCCAS is freely available for download. Sample datasets used to run the model and perform assimilation experiments are also included. There is an extensive user manual which is being continually updated. The manual includes instructions on how to install the software and how to run some pre-configured examples. There are also occasional training events to help get people started using the software.<\/p>\n
Where can I find out more?<\/strong><\/h4>\nMore information is available on the TCCAS web page: https:\/\/tccas.inversion-lab.com\/<\/a><\/p>\nA recent peer reviewed scientific paper describes the D&B model in detail: Knorr, Wolfgang, et al. “A comprehensive land-surface vegetation model for multi-stream data assimilation, D&B v1. 0.”\u00a0Geoscientific Model Development<\/em> 18.7 (2025): 2137-2159.\u00a0https:\/\/gmd.copernicus.org\/articles\/18\/2137\/2025\/<\/a><\/p>\nAnd another paper describing the data assimilation system will be published in due course.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In short, yes! TCCAS is freely available for download. Sample datasets used to run the model and perform assimilation experiments are also included. There is an extensive user manual which is being continually updated. The manual includes instructions on how to install the software and how to run some pre-configured examples. There are also occasional training events to help get people started using the software.<\/p>\n
Where can I find out more?<\/strong><\/h4>\nMore information is available on the TCCAS web page: https:\/\/tccas.inversion-lab.com\/<\/a><\/p>\nA recent peer reviewed scientific paper describes the D&B model in detail: Knorr, Wolfgang, et al. “A comprehensive land-surface vegetation model for multi-stream data assimilation, D&B v1. 0.”\u00a0Geoscientific Model Development<\/em> 18.7 (2025): 2137-2159.\u00a0https:\/\/gmd.copernicus.org\/articles\/18\/2137\/2025\/<\/a><\/p>\nAnd another paper describing the data assimilation system will be published in due course.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A recent peer reviewed scientific paper describes the D&B model in detail: Knorr, Wolfgang, et al. “A comprehensive land-surface vegetation model for multi-stream data assimilation, D&B v1. 0.”\u00a0Geoscientific Model Development<\/em> 18.7 (2025): 2137-2159.\u00a0https:\/\/gmd.copernicus.org\/articles\/18\/2137\/2025\/<\/a><\/p>\n And another paper describing the data assimilation system will be published in due course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"