SMEX04 Vegetation Data from Arizona and Sonora

Arizona, USA and Sonora, Mexico are the geographic scope for this in situ vegetation dataset from the Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04). It contains measurements from a multispectral radiometer and a plant-canopy analyzer. The dataset was provided by Principal Investigators for NASA and is hosted by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

Use Cases

• Calibrating satellite-derived vegetation indices using in-situ radiometer measurements.
• Analyzing relationships between plant canopy structure and land surface reflectance.
• Studying biomass and vegetation cover dynamics in an experimental watershed region.
• Validating hydrological and land surface models for soil moisture experiments.

Strengths

• Data is collected in situ with specialized instruments (multispectral radiometer, plant-canopy analyzer).
• Covers a defined experimental region (SMEX04 areas in Arizona and Sonora).
• Appears on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), indicating established use.

Limitations

• Documentation was not reviewed or edited by the hosting center (NSIDC), limiting support.
• Column names, row counts, and exact data size are unknown across all sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date: Data.gov lists 2026-03-12, while NASA Earthdata lists 2004-08-24.

Provenance

Source

Principal Investigator(s) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Collection Method

In situ data collection using a multispectral radiometer and a plant-canopy analyzer.

Time Range

2004

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:33:40.630576

Geography

Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04) areas of Arizona, USA and Sonora, Mexico.