SMAPVEX19-22: Airborne Lidar Measurements for Forest Soil Moisture Validation

Millbrook, New York is the location for airborne lidar data collected in April and August 2022. The dataset was gathered by the NSIDC_CPRD organization as part of the SMAPVEX19-22 campaign to validate satellite-derived soil moisture estimates in forested areas. The two acquisition periods were selected to capture differences between 'leaf-off' and 'leaf-on' seasonal conditions.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite soil moisture products based on lidar-derived forest structure data mentioned in the description
• Characterize seasonal canopy changes ('leaf-on' vs 'leaf-off') based on the two acquisition periods
• Study the relationship between forest canopy properties and soil moisture based on the campaign's stated aim

Strengths

• Data collection targeted a specific, scientifically relevant land cover type (forested areas)
• Captures seasonal variation with measurements in two distinct periods (April and August 2022)

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

NSIDC_CPRD via nasa_earthdata

Collection Method

Airborne lidar measurements collected during the SMAPVEX19-22 campaign

Time Range

April and August 2022

Freshness

Last updated 2022-08-09 23:59:59.999000; freshness should be verified

Geography

Vicinity of Millbrook, New York, USA