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Title: In situ validation issues in the soil moisture active passive (SMAP) satellite mission

Author
item Jackson, Thomas
item Cosh, Michael
item COLLIANDER, ANDREAS - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item WALKER, JEFFERY - Monash University
item Crow, Wade

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2011
Publication Date: 4/10/2011
Citation: Jackson, T.J., Cosh, M.H., Colliander, A., Walker, J., Crow, W.T. 2011. In situ validation issues in the soil moisture active passive (SMAP) satellite mission [abstract]. 34th International Symposium on Remonte Sensing of Environment. 2011 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: SMAP is a new NASA mission scheduled for 2014 that will provide a number of soil moisture and freeze/thaw products. The soil moisture products will span spatial resolutions from 3 to 40 km. In situ soil moisture observations will be one of the key elements of the validation program for SMAP. Data from the currently available set of soil moisture observing sites and networks needs improvement if they are to be useful. Problems include a lack of standardization of instrumentation and installation and the disparity in spatial scale between the point-scale in situ data (a few centimeters) and the coarser satellite products. SMAP has initiated activities to resolve these issues for some of the existing resources. The other challenge to soil moisture validation is the need to expand the number of sites and their geographic distribution. SMAP is attempting to increase the number of sites and their value in validation through a Core Validation Site program. The issues and solutions being investigated will be described along with recent results from SMAP validation projects.