Observations of the seasonal variability of soil moisture and vegetation cover over Africa using satellite microwave radiometryMultispectral passive microwave data from the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) on the Nimbus-7 satellite were processed selectively for a 1 yr period over Africa. The data show a wide dynamic range of brightness temperature (180 to 290 K), corresponding to variations in surface features such as moisture, temperature, vegetation, roughness, and large-scale topography. It appears that soil moisture variability is detectable with the SMMR over large regions of Africa. To what extent roughness and vegetation affect this capability is not clear. The lowest SMMR frequency is C-band (6.6 GHz), thus any soil moisture sensitivity at this frequency would be much improved by a sensor at L-band (1 to 2 GHz) less affected by roughness and vegetation.
Document ID
19870006160
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Njoku, Eni G. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Patel, Indu R. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: ESA Proceedings of an International Satellite Land-Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Conference