SMEX03 Vegetation Data for Northern Alabama

SMEX03 Vegetation Data: Alabama, Version 1 contains vegetation measurements collected during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 in northern Alabama, USA. The dataset is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and includes information on biomass, plant characteristics, phenology, and vegetation cover. Data was collected in 2003, with metadata updates recorded as recently as 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vegetation cover and biomass for soil moisture model validation.
• Studying plant phenology and seasonal characteristics in an agricultural region.
• Calibrating remote sensing data with ground-based vegetation measurements from the SMEX03 campaign.
• Investigating the relationship between biosphere parameters like plant characteristics and hydrologic cycles.

Strengths

• Dataset originates from a structured NASA field experiment (Soil Moisture Experiment 2003).
• Includes specific vegetation parameters: biomass, plant characteristics, phenology, and cover.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA EarthData indicates established curation.

Limitations

• No column names or row counts are provided by any source, limiting detailed analysis.
• Conflicting last updated dates: NASA EarthData lists 2003-07-01, while Data.gov lists 2026-03-12 for metadata.
• Specific data collection methods and exact file contents within BIN/ISO formats are not described.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected over the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 (SMEX03) area.

Time Range

2003

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:19:01.778568

Geography

Northern Alabama, USA