SMEX03 Watershed Soil Moisture and Temperature Data from Oklahoma

July 2-17, 2003 data from the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 (SMEX03) conducted in the Little Washita watershed, Oklahoma, USA. This dataset combines measurements for several parameters related to soil and atmospheric conditions. It is provided by the NSIDC and is available on multiple data platforms.

Use Cases

• Calibrating and validating satellite-derived soil moisture estimates using ground measurements of soil moisture water content.
• Analyzing the relationship between soil temperature and atmospheric surface/air temperature within a watershed.
• Modeling soil physical properties by incorporating measured soil bulk density data.
• Studying short-term (16-day) temporal variability of soil and atmospheric parameters during a focused field experiment.

Strengths

• Data originates from a controlled, focused field experiment (SMEX03) with a precise 16-day observation period.
• Provides multi-parameter measurements including soil moisture, temperature, bulk density, and atmospheric temperature.
• Cross-platform presence (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov) indicates established importance and accessibility for the research community.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and the complete column schema are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata: one source lists 2003-07-17 (likely data collection end), another lists 2026-03 12 (likely a platform refresh).
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' or 'None'; users must verify terms before use.

Provenance

Source

NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center).

Collection Method

In-situ measurements gathered during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2003 (SMEX03) field campaign.

Time Range

2003-07-02 to 2003-07-17

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:18:51.863499

Geography

Little Washita watershed, Oklahoma, USA.