All,
SMAP will be conducting its first post-launch validation experiment
in August 2015. The location will be Walnut Gulch, AZ (one of our
core validation sites). The new PALS scanning system will fly a
roughly 36 by 108 km domain temporally focused on SMAP descending
overpasses. We expect that there would be 8 flights over a 3-week
period beginning August 2, 2015. The exact dates will be resolved
once the SMAP orbit is finalized. In addition, there will be several
UAVSAR and AirMOSS flights during the study period.
We are hoping to capture spatially variable convective rain events
that occur in the region during this period of the year. Additional
resources are being acquired to augment the precipitation and soil
moisture observations available. These include more rain gages,
mobile scanning rain radars, and temporary soil moisture stations. It
is anticipated that these observations can be combined with high
resolution hydrological modeling to provide accurate soil moisture
information throughout the study domain.
We are looking for volunteers to collect ground measurements as part
of the campaign. These include soil moisture for calibrating in situ
sensors, characterizing vegetation type and water content, and soil
properties (with an emphasis on rock fraction). Beyond just
collecting data, we are open to considering additional observations
and people stepping up to lead activities. The base for the campaign
will be the USDA ARS facility in Tombstone, AZ.
The draft of the experiment plan will likely be posted within the
next month. In the interim, could you please consider this request
and let us know if you can participate and at what level.
Thanks (PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED)
Tom
Thomas J. Jackson
USDA ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab
301-646-3260
[email protected]
