Premium
Use of GPS receivers as a soil moisture network for water cycle studies
Author(s) -
Larson Kristine M.,
Small Eric E.,
Gutmann Ethan D.,
Bilich Andria L.,
Braun John J.,
Zavorotny Valery U.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2008gl036013
Subject(s) - global positioning system , water content , environmental science , satellite , precipitation , moisture , remote sensing , water cycle , soil science , meteorology , geology , computer science , geography , engineering , telecommunications , ecology , geotechnical engineering , aerospace engineering , biology
Measurements of soil moisture, both its global distribution and temporal variations, are required to study the water and carbon cycles. A global network of in situ soil moisture stations is needed to supplement datasets from satellite sensors. We demonstrate that signals routinely recorded by Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers for precise positioning applications can also be related to surface soil moisture variations. Over a three month interval, GPS‐derived estimates from a 300 m 2 area closely match soil moisture fluctuations in the top 5 cm of soil measured with conventional sensors, including the rate and amount of drying following six precipitation events. Thousands of GPS receivers that exist worldwide could be used to estimate soil moisture in near real‐time, with L‐band signals that complement future satellite missions.