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Title: VALIDATION OF AMSR-E SOIL MOISTURE PRODUCTS USING WATERSHED NETWORKS

Author
item Jackson, Thomas
item Cosh, Michael
item Zhan, Xiwu
item Bosch, David
item Seyfried, Mark
item Starks, Patrick
item Keefer, Timothy
item LAKSHMI, VENKAT - UNIV. OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Submitted to: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2006
Publication Date: 7/31/2006
Citation: Jackson, T.J., Cosh, M.H., Zhan, X., Bosch, D.D., Seyfried, M.S., Starks, P.J., Keefer, T.O., Lakshmi, V. 2006. Validation of AMSR-E soil moisture products using watershed networks. In: Proceedings of the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, July 31-August 4, 2006, Denver, Colorado. p. 432-435.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Validation is a challenging task for passive microwave remote sensing of soil moisture from Earth orbit. The key issue is spatial scale; conventional measurements of soil moisture are made at a point whereas satellite sensors provide an integrated area/volume value for a much larger spatial extent. A robust validation program should include as many types of comparisons as possible but must attempt to provide actual spatially representative ground based soil moisture. A ground based validation program also requires a wide range of conditions, long temporal coverage and continuous observations. As part of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) validation activity an augmented network of dedicated validation sites at actively monitored watersheds has been developed. These provide estimates of the average soil moisture over watersheds and surrounding areas that approximate the size of the AMSR-E footprint. This is done on a continuous basis, partially in real time. A public database of the watershed data for all sites is being developed and made available. To implement this network, additional surface soil moisture and temperature sensors (0-5 cm depth) were installed at and around existing instrument locations in four watersheds located in different climate regions of the U.S. Through short term and extended field campaigns the calibration of these instruments has been established. Methods for scaling from the point measurements to the integrated watershed/footprint average have also been developed as part of the validation effort. These efforts will be of value in alternate algorithm comparisons and will benefit future missions including the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite.