SMEX02 Microwave Brightness Temperature Data for Soil Moisture

SSM/I sensor brightness temperature data was collected during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02) in Iowa. The dataset originates from NASA and is designed to support soil moisture research. It is available across multiple government data platforms.

Use Cases

• Validating soil moisture models using microwave brightness temperature measurements.
• Calibrating satellite-based soil moisture retrieval algorithms for agricultural regions.
• Analyzing land surface hydrology by linking brightness temperature to soil water content.

Strengths

• Data is from a focused field experiment (SMEX02) designed for soil moisture validation.
• Dataset is hosted by NASA, indicating authoritative collection and calibration.
• Cross-platform presence on datagov and NASA Earthdata signals recognized scientific value.

Limitations

• Critical metadata like row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable from all sources.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one showing 2002 and another showing a future date of 2026.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Acquired by the Special Sensor Microwave/Imagery (SSM/I) during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02).

Time Range

2002

Freshness

2002-07-13 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Iowa, USA