[Legacy Report] Seminar - The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Satellite: Status and Outlook

#Seminar

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite will be launched by the NASA in November 2014. This satellite is the culmination of basic research and applications development over the past thirty years. During most of this period, research and development of the active and passive microwave approaches to soil moisture estimation were mainly pursued separately. Passive microwave measurements have relatively coarse resolution from space but are more sensitive to the soil moisture and are considered robust and accurate. Active microwave measurements (radar) offer much higher spatial resolution, but the signal is relatively more sensitive to surface roughness and vegetation scattering, which can make accurate soil moisture estimation from radar alone more problematic. The SMAP concept combines these two technologies to provide a suite of products. These include three L2/3 soil moisture products: active-based high resolution, passive-based low resolution, and a combined active-passive intermediate resolution. In addition, there is a SMAP L3 freeze-thaw product and two L4 products: surface and root zone soil moisture and net ecosystem exchange of carbon. Both the SMAP instrument and algorithms are advancing on schedule. The status of the mission will be presented along with a review of recent activities. SMAP will incorporate a rigorous calibration and validation program that will support algorithm refinement and provide users with information on the accuracy and reliability of its suite of products. This program engages a large number of Cal/Val partners who provide in situ observations at representative locations globally. Another major component of SMAP is its applications focus. This includes an Early Adopters Program that has engaged over twenty groups in activities that will prepare them and the SMAP Project for the rapid implementation of the data post-launch.

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• Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
• Australia

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