SMEX04: Terra MODIS Satellite Data for Soil Moisture Studies

Sonora, Mexico and Arizona, USA are the two regional study areas for this collection of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data products from the NASA Terra satellite. The data were acquired for use in the Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04). It consists of multiple data products, likely containing spectral imagery from infrared and visible wavelengths.

Use Cases

• Calibrating soil moisture retrieval algorithms based on MODIS spectral bands.
• Analyzing land-surface temperature and vegetation indices for the SMEX04 study areas.
• Validating hydrological models using satellite-derived geospatial data over Arizona and Sonora.

Strengths

• Data originates from the NASA Terra satellite, a major Earth observation platform.
• Specifically collected for a defined scientific experiment (SMEX04), suggesting focused utility.
• Available on multiple government data platforms, indicating established provenance.

Limitations

• Documentation was provided solely by the Principal Investigators and not reviewed by NSIDC, so support may be limited.
• Column names and row counts are unknown, obscuring the data's structure and volume.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date (2004-12-31 vs. 2026-04-09), creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on board the NASA Terra satellite.

Time Range

2004

Freshness

Sources conflict: one platform lists last updated as 2004-12-31, another lists 2026-04-09.

Geography

Arizona, USA and Sonora, Mexico