SMAPVEX19-22: Lidar-Derived Forest Elevation Models for Soil Moisture Validation

SMAPVEX19-22 Millbrook Lidar Derived Digital Elevation Model V001 consists of ground surface elevation data from lidar measurements. The data were collected in April and August 2022 near Millbrook, NY, by the NSIDC_CPRD organization as part of the SMAPVEX19-22 campaign. The two acquisition periods were designed to capture differences in forested terrain during leaf-off and leaf-on conditions.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite-derived soil moisture estimates based on forested land cover mentioned in the description
• Characterize terrain differences between leaf-off and leaf-on conditions based on the two acquisition periods
• Model ground surface elevation for hydrological studies in forested areas based on the digital elevation model data

Strengths

• Data collected during two distinct seasonal periods (April and August 2022) to capture leaf-off and leaf-on conditions
• Focused on a specific, relevant land cover type (forested areas) for soil moisture validation
• Derived from source lidar measurements, which typically provide high-resolution elevation data

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
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the single study location near Millbrook, NY

Provenance

Source

NSIDC_CPRD

Collection Method

Ground surface elevations derived from source lidar measurements.

Time Range

April and August 2022

Freshness

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

Geography

Vicinity of Millbrook, NY, USA