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SMAPVEX08 Soil Texture Data, Version 1
This data set contains soil texture data that were extracted from a multi-layer soil characteristics database for the conterminous United States and generated for each regional study area. Data are representative of the conditions present in the regional study areas during the general timeline of the Soil Moisture Active Passive Validation Experiment 2008 (SMAPVEX08) campaign.
Geographic Coverage
Spatial Coverage: |
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Spatial Resolution: |
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Temporal Coverage: |
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Temporal Resolution: | Varies |
Parameter(s): |
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Platform(s) | Models/Analyses |
Sensor(s): | CONUS-Soil |
Data Format(s): |
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Version: | V1 |
Data Contributor(s): | Cosh, M. |
Metadata XML: | View Metadata Record |
Data Citation
As a condition of using these data, you must cite the use of this data set using the following citation. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.
Cosh, M. 2015. SMAPVEX08 Soil Texture Data, Version 1. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/4R2T2E348XG4. [Date Accessed].Detailed Data Description
This data set contains soil texture data that were extracted from a multi-layer soil characteristics database for the conterminous United States and generated for each regional study area. Data are representative of the conditions present in the regional study area during the general timeline of the Soil Moisture Active Passive Validation Experiment 2008 (SMAPVEX08) campaign.
Data are provided in flat binary files with associated Extensible Markup Language (XML) metadata files.
The binary files are arranged as follows:
Columns: 920
Rows: 600
Pixel Size: 100 meters
In Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Coordinates, Zone 18 N, North American Datum 1983 (NAD-83):
Easting Lower Left Corner 377,0000 meters
Northing Lower Left Corner 4,290,000 meters
Data files are available on the HTTPS site in the https://n5eil01u.ecs.nsidc.org/SMAP_VAL/SV08ST.001/
directory.
File names contain an abbreviated parameter designation as follows:
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
bd |
bulk density |
awc |
available water capacity |
poros |
porosity |
perm |
permeability |
sand |
percent sand |
clay |
percent clay |
rvol |
rock fragment volume |
dfc |
rock fragment class |
With the exception of available water capacity (awc
), file names also include a number which designates one of four soil layers, as listed in Table 2. There is only one awc
file; available water capacity was computed for the top 100 cm from the surface.
Variable | Description |
---|---|
1 |
0-5 cm |
2 |
5-10 cm |
3 |
10-20 cm |
4 |
20-30 cm |
Files range in size from approximately 0.5 to 2.1 MB per file.
The total volume for this data set is approximately 35 MB.
Southernmost Latitude: 38.93°N
Northernmost Latitude: 39.09°N
Westernmost Longitude: 76.25°W
Easternmost Longitude: 75.55°W
Spatial Resolution
100 m
Projection Description
UTM 18 N (NAD83)
Grid Description
Rectangular grid, 100 m by 100 m
These data are representative of the conditions to be expected in the US regional study area during the approximate timeline of the SMAPVEX08 campaign, October 2008. Thus, temporal coverage and resolution varies by parameter. Data were obtained from a long-term database of soil texture for the conterminous United States called CONUS-Soil. Visit the Soil Information for Environmental Modeling and Ecosystem Management for more information.
Available Water Capacity: Values given as volumetric percent, computed for a column length of 100 cm, measured from the surface.
Bulk Density: Values given as mean bulk density.
Permeability: Values given as mean permeability rate, in cm/hr.
Porosity: Values given as mean porosity.
Rock Fragment Classification: Values given in code ranging from 0-15 that represent a fragment class:
- 0, No data
- 1, Bouldery
- 2, Cobbly
- 3, Channery
- 4, Cherty
- 5, Flaggy
- 6, Gravelly
- 7, Rubbly
- 8, Shaly
- 9, Stony
- 10, Slaty
- 11, Organic Materials
- 12, Water
- 13, Bedrock
- 14, No Rock Fragments
- 15, Other
Rock Fragment Volume: Values given as percent of rock by volume.
Texture/Percent Sand: Values given as percent sand.
Texture/Percent Clay: Values given as percent clay.
Parameter Range
Valid parameter values are as follows:
- Available Water Capacity: 0-100%
- Bulk Density: 0-3 g/cm3
- Permeability: 0-10 cm/hr
- Porosity: 0-1
- Rock Fragment Classification: 0-15
- Rock Fragment Volume: 0-100%
- Texture/Percent Sand: 0-100%
- Texture/Percent Clay: 0-100%
Software and Tools
ArcView, ENVI, or other similar software packages are appropriate tools for viewing the binary data.
The quality of the classification is not high due to the effect of the error sources as specified below
Data Acquisition and Processing
These soil data were retrieved from an online database hosted by the Earth System Science Center in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, at http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu. The data are from CONUS-Soil, a multi-layer soil characteristics data set for the conterminous United States.
Error Sources
The usage of two scenes, both acquired before the campaign, causes additional error to the classification.
Contacts and Acknowledgments
Michael H. Cosh
United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS)
Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Bldg. 007, Rm. 104
BARC-West
Beltsville, MD 20705
Maryland and Delaware soil data were retrieved from an online database hosted by the Earth System Science Center in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, at http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu. The data are from CONUS-SOIL, a multi-layer soil characteristics data set for the conterminous United States.
Document Information
DOCUMENT CREATION DATE
June 2015
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