Site Averaged Neutron Soil Moisture: 1989 FIFE Experiment Data

1989 data from the FIFE experiment provides site-averaged daily neutron probe soil moisture measurements. This dataset contains processed, site-averaged values for soil moisture content collected during the 1987-1989 field campaign. It is part of a larger Earth science study focused on land surface processes.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived soil moisture estimates using ground-based neutron probe measurements.
• Analyzing temporal soil moisture patterns at specific field sites during the 1989 growing season.
• Calibrating or testing hydrological models with site-averaged, in-situ soil moisture data.

Strengths

• Data is site-averaged and further averaged by day, providing a processed, summary-level product.
• Part of the well-documented FIFE (First ISLSCP Field Experiment) campaign from 1987-1989.
• Hosted by NASA, indicating a reputable source for Earth science data.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (1989 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about provenance tracking.
• Dataset includes only data from 1989, a subset of the full FIFE experiment period.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Neutron probe soil moisture samples collected in the field, averaged per site and then per day.

Time Range

1989

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:16:16.634660

Geography

FIFE experiment site (Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA)