SMEX03: Soil Texture Classes for Northern Alabama SCAN Sites

2003 data provides soil texture classifications for Soil Climate and Analysis Network (SCAN) sites in northern Alabama, USA, collected as ancillary data for the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 (SMEX03). The dataset supports research linking soil physical properties to moisture measurements. Documentation was provided solely by the Principal Investigators and was not further developed or edited by the data center.

Use Cases

• Validating soil moisture remote sensing algorithms based on known soil texture properties.
• Parameterizing land surface models for the Alabama region with site-specific soil class data.
• Analyzing the relationship between soil texture and measured soil moisture dynamics during the SMEX03 field campaign.

Strengths

• Data is associated with a defined scientific field experiment (Soil Moisture Experiment 2003).
• Provides specific, localized soil texture information for SCAN network sites.
• Dataset is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), indicating recognized utility.

Limitations

• Documentation was not reviewed or edited by the hosting center, leading to potential support gaps.
• Column names and precise data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2003 vs. 2026) across platforms create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected as ancillary data for the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 (SMEX03).

Time Range

2003

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:10:47.060940

Geography

Northern Alabama, USA