LPRM_WINDSAT_SOILM2: Global Surface Soil Moisture from WindSat/Coriolis

Global land surface parameters are derived from polarimetric microwave radiometer data collected by the WindSat instrument on the Coriolis satellite. The dataset provides surface soil moisture, land surface (skin) temperature, and vegetation water content for each satellite swath, processed using the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM). It covers a time period from February 2003 to July 2012.

Use Cases

• Monitoring drought conditions based on surface soil moisture retrievals.
• Validating land surface models using satellite-derived skin temperature.
• Studying vegetation dynamics through retrieved vegetation water content.
• Assimilating swath-based soil moisture data into hydrological forecasting systems.

Strengths

• Covers a significant time range of over nine years, from February 2003 to July 2012.
• Derives three key land parameters (soil moisture, temperature, vegetation) using a physically-based retrieval model (LPRM).
• Available on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov), indicating established use.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not specified in the provided metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2012-08-01 and 2026-04 09), suggesting potential metadata inconsistency.
• The dataset's raw size and row count are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)

Collection Method

Derived from WindSat brightness temperatures (sdrLowRes) using the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM).

Time Range

February 2003 to July 2012

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:40:55.961845

Geography

Global (satellite swath)