ARS | Publication request: A new long-term experimental site for validation and scaling of soil moisture observations

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 27, 2007
Publication Date: July 27, 2007
Citation: Hornbuckle, B., Krajewski, W., Kaleita, A., Kruger, A., Eichinger, W., Logsdon, S.D., Sauer, T.J. 2007. A new long-term experimental site for validation and scaling of soil moisture observations [CD-ROM]. IEEE, New York, NY.

Technical Abstract: Remote sensing is used to observe components of the water cycle, but the quantitative aspects are not well known. Validation is an important challenge because remote sensors measure at a different scale than our validation instruments. Remote sensors average spatially and temporally, but reference data are point observations. We hypothesize that 1) remotely-sensed observations of the water cycle can best be validated through the use of rigorous statistical methodology that accounts for variability in the data at a variety of space and time scales, and 2) integrating other hydrologic processes and related environmental variables together will better constrain the specific variable of interest. We are setting up a prototype experimental validation site that will be extensively instrumented with both in-situ and remotely-sensed observations of soil moisture. The site will be a community resource and will supply the data generated at the site instantly to other researchers through the use of wireless technologies and the world wide web. Instruments will measure soil moisture, soil temperature, vegetation temperature, radiation balance, precipitation, and sensible and latent heat fluxes. We hope to support current and upcoming satellite missions which make water cycle observations.