 Currently, no extensive, near real-time, global soil moisture observation network exists. The Met Office has instead used observations of screen temperature and humidity. A number of new space-born remote sensing systems operating at microwave frequencies have been developed that provide a more direct retrieval of surface soil moisture. These systems are attractive since they provide global data coverage and the horizontal resolution is similar to other models. This article was authored by I. Darcy, K. J. Bovis, B. McPherson, and others.