The EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility (SAF) on support to operational hydrology and water management (H-SAF) was established by the EUMETSAT Council in July 2005 and the Development phase started on 1st September 2005.
H-SAF membership includes 11 EUMETSAT member or cooperating States (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey) and ECMWF. The H-SAF is hosted by the Italian Met Service.
In the framework of the H-SAF the interest for new satellite products focuses on:
- Precipitation rate and cumulate precipitation, including liquid/solid discrimination;
- Soil moisture in the surface layer and possibly in the roots region;
- Snow parameters such as effective cover, wet/dry discrimination, water equivalent.
ECMWF is a contributor to the core soil moisture product and is represented in the H-SAF Steering Group and the Project Team.
ECMWF H-SAF products: