Our Partners

Michel Bechtold is permanent senior scientist in the research group “Land Surface Modeling, Remote Sensing and Data Assimilation” of prof. Gabrielle De Lannoy at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium. Michel Bechtold is an internationally renowned expert in peatland research and has thirteen years of experience in peatland research, including field work, model development and the use of remote sensing. In collaboration with NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO), he developed peatland-specific modules (“PEATCLSM”) for the NASA Catchment Land Surface Model and provided the scientific basis for a specific treatment of peatlands in an operational hydrological product, i.e. the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission Level-4 Soil Moisture product. He also conducted pioneering research in using high resolution satellite data (SAR and optical) over different types of peatlands from drained to natural conditions. In ESA’s WorldPeatland project, his work will be focused on the development of tools for peatland hydrological monitoring.