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Garry L. Schaefer, WCM Branch Leader, NWCC Deborah S. Harms, Soil Scientist, NSSC March 3-5, 2009

Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature Observations and Applications Operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Garry L. Schaefer, WCM Branch Leader, NWCC Deborah S. Harms, Soil Scientist, NSSC March 3-5, 2009 Oak Ridge, TN. Soil Moisture Monitoring. SCAN

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Garry L. Schaefer, WCM Branch Leader, NWCC Deborah S. Harms, Soil Scientist, NSSC March 3-5, 2009

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  1. Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature Observations and Applications Operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Garry L. Schaefer, WCM Branch Leader, NWCC Deborah S. Harms, Soil Scientist, NSSC March 3-5, 2009 Oak Ridge, TN

  2. Soil Moisture Monitoring • SCAN • Soil Climate Analysis Network • Monitors lower elevation areas for climate parameters and soil moisture monitoring nationwide • SNOTEL • SNOw pack TELmetry • Monitors high elevation areas for snow water content, climate parameters, and soil moisture in the Western United States

  3. Drought Vulnerable Soil Landscapes

  4. SCAN • SCAN • Started as a Soil Moisture/Soil Temperature Pilot Project between the National Water and Climate Center and the National Soil Survey Center in 1991 with 21 stations in 19 states • If funding becomes available, full implementation of SCAN would have at least 1,000 new stations and integrate 1,000 existing partner-based stations • Goal will be to have new stations located on Benchmark soil series • Utilizes meteor burst, line-of-sight, or GOES satellite communication technology to transmit remote station data

  5. SCAN • Currently the network has 151 stations in 39 States • Provides hourly data with • Precipitation • Air temperature • Relative humidity • Solar radiation • Wind speed and direction • Barometric pressure • Soil moisture and soil temperature • 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inches

  6. Other SCAN Data Parameters • Snow water content • Snow depth • Net radiation • Redox • Additional soil moisture and soil temperature measurements • Water level • Surface temperature • Water quality parameters

  7. Soil Moisture/ Precipitation

  8. SCAN Data • All SCAN stations have full soil characterizations complete and available on the web • All historic and real-time SCAN data are available on the web • http:www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan • Special Reports • Special “Spreadsheet” compatible reports can be created

  9. SCAN Future FY 2009 33 new SCAN stations will be added. • 16 Utah • 4 New Mexico • 10 Alabama • 1 Idaho • 1 Nevada • 1 California • NRCS is looking at purchase of CONUS Meteor Burst Master Stations for full U.S. Coverage • NRCS is looking how to fund SCAN • Collaborating on development of spatial soil moisture modeling

  10. SCAN Cooperators • Current partners include: • U.S.D.A.- Agricultural Research Service • Mississippi State University and Extension Service • Alabama A&M University • University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff • University of Missouri • Iowa State University • High Plains Regional Climate Center • U.S.D.A.- World Agricultural Outlook Board • U.S.D.A.- Forest Service • U.S.D.A.-Natural Resources Conservation Service • The Nature Conservancy • Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation • University of Alaska • SE Regional Climate Center • Others

  11. SNOTEL Network • Large Automated Climate Network • Began in 1978 • Over 754 remote stations • Generally in high elevation areas • Located in the 12 Western States and Alaska • Utilizes meteor burst communication technology to transmit data

  12. SNOTEL Network • Large Automated Climate Network • Began in 1978 • 765 remote stations • Generally in high elevation areas • Located in the 12 Western States including Alaska • Utilizes meteor burst communication technology to transmit data

  13. SNOTEL Parameters • Typical Sensor Array • Snow water content • All season precipitation • Air temperature (maximum, minimum, and average) • Snow depth • Soil moisture and soil temperature at 35% of network

  14. SNOTEL Parameters • Additional Sensors at Enhanced SNOTEL Stations • Solar radiation • Relative humidity • Wind speed and direction • Other sensors based upon customer requests

  15. Typical SNOTEL Station

  16. Siting Criteria • All stations should be located on federal, state, county, or university lands. This will ensure long-term use of the land for monitoring purposes. • All stations should be located in non-irrigated areas. • First consideration be given to “Benchmark” soils. • Consideration must be given to ensure that all Major Land Resource Area’s are represented in a given climatic region. • The station must represent an agricultural area. Pasture, range, timber, and cropped areas must be considered first. • When selecting a suitable location, some consideration of station security must be included. • The first stations to be installed should be located in areas that are susceptible to drought.

  17. Soil Moisture/Soil Temperature Measurement • NRCS uses a capacitance type of sensor. • Steven Water “Hydro Probe” SDI-12 is currently used • Installed at specific depths • Full soil description and characterization analysis are done at each location • Description and characterization data available to users from the Web

  18. Soil Description

  19. Sensor Placement and Layout • The deepest sensor is installed first • 40 inch installed vertically • Hole is kept to a small size to minimize water transport

  20. Sensor Placement and Layout • Sensors are placed horizontally at all other depths • Sensors are dispersed around the small hole to minimize interference • Compact the soil as each sensor is installed making sure the sensor is inserted completely into undisturbed soil

  21. Sensor Placement and Layout • Sensor wires are moved to opposite side of hole and form a drip-loop • Flex-conduit is used to protect sensor wires

  22. Data Uses for SCAN and SNOTEL • Climate monitoring • Water supply forecasting • Drought assessment and mitigation • Drought triggers • Precision agriculture • Soil survey interruption and mapping • Crop production forecasts • Range production and condition • Disease and Pest prediction/mitigation • Provide data for NWS and other agencies for flood forecasting and reservoir management • Climate change assessment • Water quality monitoring • Air quality monitoring • Underground utility lines

  23. Summary • SCAN and SNOTEL have a high benefit/cost ratio • Provide a minimum of daily up to hourly data • Expandable to meet demands • Designed to be a cooperative program • Requires maintenance to ensure data quality • Diverse utility of the data • Data are easily retrievable from the web page at http://www/wcc.nrcs.usda.gov • Developing better tools to provide user with spatial soil moisture modeling • Agreement with Oregon State University and Alabama A&M University to develop a spatial soil moisture model which integrates point soil moisture data with soils data to produce a soil moisture map

  24. Contacts • Garry L. Schaefer, NRCSWater & Climate Monitoring Branch Leader1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 802Portland, OR 97232Phone: 503-414-3068 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: garry.schaefer@por.usda.gov • Deborah S. Harms, NRCSSoil ScientistFederal Building100 Centennial Mall NorthLincoln, NE 68508Phone: 402-437-5324Email: deb.harms@lin.usda.gov

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