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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291075

Title: The soil moisture active passive (SMAP) mission and validation

Author
item Jackson, Thomas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2013
Publication Date: 4/26/2013
Citation: Jackson, T.J. 2013. The soil moisture active passive (SMAP) mission and validation [abstract]. Meeting Abstract. 2013 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite will be launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in October 2014. This satellite is the culmination of basic research and applications development over the past thirty years. During most of this period, research and development of the active and passive approaches to soil moisture were separate and to a degree competitive; one offering high spatial resolution (active) and the other a more robust and accurate retrieval (passive). The SMAP concept combines these two technologies and provides three soil moisture products; active-based high resolution, passive-based low resolution, and a composite moderate resolution. SMAP will also incorporate a rigorous calibration and validation program that will support algorithm refinement and provide users with information on the accuracy and reliability of its suite of products. The path to the satellite, the current status, products, and plans for calibration and validation are presented.