PROGRESS IN AUTOMATED MEASUREMENTS OF SOIL WATER IN ATMOSPHERIC AND HYDROLOGIC OBSERVING NETWORKS IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Authors: SCHNEIDER, J - NOAA; FISHER, D - UNIV. OF OKLAHOMA; STARKS, PATRICK; ELLIOTT, R - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Meteorological Observations and Instrumentation Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Water near the soil surface and in the root zone constitutes the lower boundary condition for the movement of water to and from the atmosphere, and progress in the measurement of soil water content is important to both the agricultural and atmospheric science communities. Three soil water measurment networks, all located in Oklahoma, have recently been established: USDA Agricultural Research Service's Little Washita watershed University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University's statewide Mesonet system; and Department of Energy's ARM/CART Southern Great Plains site. Each network employs the same soil moisture sensor, though each network deploys the sensors differently in the root zone.

Technical Abstract: Traditionally, measurement of soil water has been a laborious, expensive process, precluding the establishment of extensive or automated networks for extended periods of time. Recently, a spate of technical development has produced a number of potential solutions. In particular, a relatively inexpensive soil heat dissipation sensor appeared to be a likely candidate for deployment in unattended networks extending over large areas. Establishment and deployment of these heat dissipation sensors, in three soil moisture measurement networks (USDA Agricultural Research Service's Little Washita watershed; University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State Unviversity's statewide Mesonet system; and Department of Energy's ARM/CART Southern Great Plains site) in Oklahoma is described.