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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 #304861

Title: Remote sensing of soil water content at large scales

Author
item Cosh, Michael

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2014
Publication Date: 11/2/2014
Citation: Cosh, M.H. 2014. Remote sensing of soil water content at large scales [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Abstract 169-7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil water content at the near surface is a critical parameter for understanding land surface atmosphere interactions, influencing surface energy balances. Using microwave radiometry, an accurate global map of surface soil water content can be generated on a near daily basis. The accuracy of the products is evaluated by comparing to in situ resources and calibration can result in error standards as low as 0.04 m3/m3. The resolution of these global surface products vary from 50 km to as small as 3 km in scale with some trade-offs in accuracy. These products are useful for weather forecasting and climatology, as well as water managers who operate on county scales or larger. Current satellite estimates are for the 0-5 cm soil depth which is calibrated with 5 cm network installations. As part of an upcoming satellite mission, soil water content will also be modeled to a depth of 1 meter for use in agricultural monitoring and forecasting. A review of past, current, and future satellite missions will be given and future opportunities for research will be discussed.