SMEX03: Radar Browse Images for Soil Moisture in Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma

SMEX03 ENVISAT ASAR browse images provide a visual index of radar backscatter data collected during the 2003 Soil Moisture Experiment. These geospatial images cover three distinct regional study areas in the southeastern and central United States. The dataset serves as a reference for locating and interpreting quantitative radar measurements of land surface conditions.

Use Cases

• Locating specific quantitative radar data files from the SMEX03 campaign using the browse image index
• Assessing regional land cover and surface conditions for soil moisture studies in the southeastern and central US
• Supporting the validation of soil moisture models with geospatial context from the 2003 experiment

Strengths

• Provides a focused visual index for a well-defined scientific campaign (SMEX03)
• Covers three distinct geographic regions (Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma), allowing for comparative study
• Hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov), indicating recognized scientific value

Limitations

• Metadata conflicts exist: last updated date is listed as both 2003-07-15 and 2026-04-09
• Core quantitative data (e.g., backscatter values) are not included, only browse images
• Column names and precise image specifications are not documented in the provided metadata

Provenance

Source

NSIDCV0 (National Snow and Ice Data Center DAAC)

Collection Method

Acquired by the ENVISAT ASAR satellite instrument as part of the 2003 Soil Moisture Experiment (SMEX03)

Time Range

2003

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:35:11.430516 (conflict with 2003 date noted in limitations)

Geography

Regional study areas in Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma, USA