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Microwave Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture

  • Conference paper
Applications of Remote Sensing to Agrometeorology

Part of the book series: Ispra Courses ((ISPA))

Abstract

Because of the large contrast between the dielectric constant of liquid water and that of dry soil at microwave wavelengths, there is a strong dependence of the thermal emission and radar back-scatter from the soil on its moisture content. This dependence provides a means for the remote sensing of the moisture content in a surface layer approximately 5 cm thick. The feasibility of these techniques has been demonstrated from field, aircraft and spacecraft platforms. The soil texture, surface roughness, and vegetative cover affect the sensitivity of the microwave response to moisture variations with vegetation being the most important. It serves as an attenuating layer which can totally obscure the surface. Research has indicated that it is possible to obtain 5 or more levels of moisture discrimination and that a mature corn crop is the limiting vegetation situation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Hydrology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, USA

    Thomas Schmugge

Authors
  1. Thomas Schmugge
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

    F. Toselli

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© 1989 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg

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Schmugge, T. (1989). Microwave Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture. In: Toselli, F. (eds) Applications of Remote Sensing to Agrometeorology. Ispra Courses. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2235-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2235-8_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7501-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2235-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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