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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 #318163
Title: Initial validation of the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission using USDA-ARS watersheds

Author
item Cosh, Michael
item Jackson, Thomas
item BINDLISH, R. - Science Systems, Inc
item COLLIANDER, ANDREAS - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item McKee, Lynn
item Starks, Patrick
item Seyfried, Mark
item Prueger, John
item Livingston, Stanley
item Goodrich, David - Dave
item Bosch, David
item Coopersmith, Evan
item HORNBUCKLE, B. - Iowa State University
item CHAN, S. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item KIM, S. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item DAS, N. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item YUEH, S. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2015
Publication Date: 11/18/2015
Citation: Cosh, M.H., Jackson, T.J., Bindlish, R., Colliander, Andreas, McKee, L.G., Starks, P., Seyfried, M.S., Prueger, J.H., Livingston, S., Goodrich, D.C., Bosch, D.D., Coopersmith, E., Hornbuckle, B., Chan, S., Kim, S., Das, N., Yueh, S. 2015. Initial validation of the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission using USDA-ARS watersheds SSSA-ASA-CSSA Annual Meeting 2015. November 15-18, 2015, Minneapolis, MN. Abstract #403-3.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission was launched in January 2015 to measure global surface soil moisture. The calibration and validation program of SMAP relies upon an international cooperative of in situ networks to provide ground truth references across a variety of landscapes. The USDA Agricultural Research Service operates several experimental watersheds as part of this project with distributed soil moisture networks, measuring soil moisture at a 5 cm depth. Comparisons of the in situ networks to the satellite products are ongoing, but initial results have shown a good correspondence between satellite estimates and the in situ soil moisture resources, once scaling functions are applied. The satellite products available are reviewed and the scaling methodologies for the in situ networks are discussed, including lessons learned. Results from the Little Washita, Fort Cobb, St. Joseph’s and Little River Experimental Watersheds show a good correspondence between the satellite products and in situ estimates. Reynolds Creek and Walnut Gulch show high accuracy, though with the caveat that these domains are semi-arid with small dynamic range. The South Fork Watershed is examined more closely for its detailed scaling function development and some apparent bias between the satellite and in situ estimates.