Global Soil Moisture Patterns Observed by Space Borne Microwave Radiometers and Scatterometers

• DOI: 10.1007/s10712-008-9044-0
• Publication Date: 2008-10-09T07:01:04Z
• Authors: R. A. M. de Jeu; W. Wagner; T. R. H. Holmes; A. J. Dolman; N. C. van de Giesen; J. Friesen
• Keywords: Scatterometer

Within the scope of upcoming launch a new water related satellite mission (SMOS) global evaluation study was performed on two available soil moisture products. ERS scatterometer surface wetness data compared to AMSR-E data. This pointed out strong similarity between both products in sparse moderate vegetated regions with an average correlation coefficient 0.83. Low correlations were found densely areas and deserts. The low values can be explained by limited retrieval capabilities over dense vegetation covers. Soil emission is attenuated canopy tends saturate microwave signal increasing density, resulting decreased sensor sensitivity variations. It expected that frequency will obtain higher quality these regions. desert are likely due volume scattering or dielectric dynamics within soil. dry soils causes backscatter under very conditions than when sub-surface layers somewhat wet. In addition, at levels constant has reduced response changes content. At scale spatial correspondence high clearly distinguish similar seasonal inter annual Based analyses we concluded comparable may beneficial for large validation SMOS moisture. Some limitations studied different, pointing significant potential combining into one superior set.