SMEX04: Soil Characteristics for Sonora, Mexico

SMEX04 soil characteristics data were extracted from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) digital soil map of the world for Sonora, Mexico. The dataset was created for the 2004 Soil Moisture Experiment (SMEX04) to support soil moisture research. Its documentation was provided solely by the Principal Investigator(s) and was not further developed or edited by NSIDC.

Use Cases

• Validating soil moisture models based on soil texture parameters.
• Analyzing spatial patterns of soil porosity for hydrological studies.
• Providing ground reference data for satellite-based soil moisture retrieval algorithms.

Strengths

• Data originates from the authoritative FAO digital soil map of the world.
• Dataset is cross-listed on multiple platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating established use.

Limitations

• Documentation was not reviewed or edited by the hosting platform (NSIDC), which may limit support.
• Column names and the exact number of rows are unknown, hindering precise data understanding.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date (2004-12-31 vs. 2026-04-09), creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) digital soil map of the world.

Collection Method

Extracted for the 2004 Soil Moisture Experiment (SMEX04).

Time Range

2004

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:09:12.232863

Geography

Sonora, Mexico