SMEX04 Arizona Soil Bulk Density and Rock Fraction Data

This dataset contains in situ measurements of soil bulk density and rock fraction collected during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04) in Arizona. It was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Principal Investigators. The data was last updated on the NSIDC platform in March 2026, though the original collection concluded in August 2004.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite soil moisture retrievals from missions like SMAP or SMOS using ground-truth bulk density measurements.
• Modeling hydrological processes by incorporating in-situ rock fraction data to improve soil water retention estimates.
• Analyzing spatial variability of soil properties within the SMEX04 Arizona study region for agricultural or climate research.

Strengths

• Data originates from a controlled NASA field experiment (SMEX04), ensuring a focused collection methodology.
• The dataset's presence across multiple government platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata) signals its established use in scientific communities.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing, including row count, file size, and specific column names.
• Documentation was provided solely by the Principal Investigators and was not reviewed or edited by NSIDC, limiting support.
• There is a conflict regarding the last update date: NASA Earthdata lists August 2004, while Data.gov lists March 2026.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

In situ data collection as part of the Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04).

Time Range

2004

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:35:39.781155

Geography

Arizona, USA