Journal Article

FZJ-2015-07761

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Soil moisture sensor calibration for organic soil surface layers

Bircher, S. (Corresponding author) ; Andreasen, M. ; Vuollet, J. ; Vehviläinen, J. ; Rautiainen, K. ; Jonard, F.FZJ* ; Weihermüller, L.FZJ* ; Zakharova, E. ; Wigneron, J.-P. ; Kerr, Y. H.

2015
Copernicus Publ. Göttingen

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/9642  doi:10.5194/gid-5-447-2015

Abstract: This paper's objective is to present generic calibration functions for organic surface layers derived for the soil moisture sensors Decagon ECH2O 5TE and Delta-T ThetaProbe ML2x, using material from northern regions, mainly from the Finish Meteorological Institute's Arctic Research Center in Sodankylä and the study area of the Danish Center for Hydrology HOBE. For the Decagon 5TE sensor such a function is currently not reported in literature. Data were compared with measurements from underlying mineral soils including laboratory and field measurements. Shrinkage and charring during drying were considered. For both sensors all field and lab data showed consistent trends. For mineral layers with low soil organic matter (SOM) content the validity of the manufacturer's calibrations was demonstrated. Deviating sensor outputs in organic and mineral horizons were identified: for the Decagon 5TE apparent relative permittivities at a given moisture content decreased for increased SOM content, which was attributed to an increase of bound water in organic materials with large surface areas compared to the studied mineral soils. ThetaProbe measurements from organic horizons showed stronger non-linearity in the sensor response and signal saturation in the high level data. The derived calibration fit functions between sensor response and volumetric water content hold for samples spanning a wide range of humus types with differing SOM characteristics. This strengthens confidence in their validity under various conditions, rendering them highly suitable for large-scale applications in remote sensing and land surface modeling studies. Agreement between independent Decagon 5TE and ThetaProbe time series from an organic surface layer at the Sodankylä site was significantly improved when the here proposed fit functions were used. Decagon 5TE data also well-reflected precipitation events. Thus, Decagon 5TE network data from organic surface layers at the Sodankylä and HOBE sites are based on the here proposed natural log fit. The newly derived ThetaProbe fit functions should be used for hand-held applications only, but in that case proof of value for the acquisition of instantaneous large-scale soil moisture estimates.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2015

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