Theory -- Data Assimilation and Information -- Mathematical Concepts of Data Assimilation -- Variational Assimilation -- Ensemble Kalman Filter: Current Status and Potential -- Error Statistics in Data Assimilation: Estimation and Modelling -- Bias Estimation -- The Principle of Energetic Consistency in Data Assimilation -- Evaluation of Assimilation Algorithms -- Initialization -- Observations -- The Global Observing System -- Assimilation of Operational Data -- Research Satellites -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics -- General Concepts in Meteorology and Dynamics -- The Role of the Model in the Data Assimilation System -- Numerical Weather Prediction -- Atmospheric Chemistry -- to Atmospheric Chemistry and Constituent Transport -- Representation and Modelling of Uncertainties in Chemistry and Transport Models -- Constituent Assimilation -- Inverse Modelling and Combined State-Source Estimation for Chemical Weather -- Wider Applications -- Ocean Data Assimilation -- Land Surface Data Assimilation -- Assimilation of GPS Soundings in Ionospheric Models -- The Longer View -- Reanalysis: Data Assimilation for Scientific Investigation of Climate -- Observing System Simulation Experiments -- Data Assimilation for Other Planets.

Data assimilation methods were largely developed for operational weather forecasting, but in recent years have been applied to an increasing range of earth science disciplines. This book will set out the theoretical basis of data assimilation with contributions by top international experts in the field. Various aspects of data assimilation are discussed including: theory; observations; models; numerical weather prediction; evaluation of observations and models; assessment of future satellite missions; application to components of the Earth System. References are made to recent developments in data assimilation theory (e.g. Ensemble Kalman filter), and to novel applications of the data assimilation method (e.g. ionosphere, Mars data assimilation).