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Effect of vegetation on soil moisture sensing observed from orbiting microwave radiometersThe microwave radiometric measurements made by the Skylab 1.4 GHz radiometer and by the 6.6 GHz and 10.7 GHz channels of the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer were analyzed to study the large-area soil moisture variations of land surfaces. Two regions in Texas, one with sparse and the other with dense vegetation covers, were selected for the study. The results gave a confirmation of the vegetation effect observed by ground-level microwave radiometers. Based on the statistics of the satellite data, it was possible to estimate surface soil moisture in about five different levels from dry to wet conditions with a 1.4 GHz radiometer, provided that the biomass of the vegetation cover could be independently measured. At frequencies greater than about 6.6 GHz, the radiometric measurements showed little sensitivity to moisture variation for vegetation-covered soils. The effects of polarization in microwave emission were studied also.
Document ID
19850047938
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wang, J. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Oceans, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Remote Sensing of Environment
Volume: 17
ISSN: 0034-4257
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Accession Number
85A30089
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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