Validation strategies for satellite based soil moisture products over Argentina Pampas.
Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, IEEE (Volume:8 , Issue: 8 ) Pág: 4094 – 4105
Abstract: In this paper, an operational evaluation strategy for two candidates satellite derived SM products is presented. In particular, we analyze the performance of two candidate algorithms (SMOS-based SM and ASCAT-based SM) to monitor SM in Pampas Plain. The difficulties associated with commonly used evaluation techniques are addressed, and advanced techniques are presented. In particular, we introduce comparisons with a land surface model (GLDAS) and SM anomalies and Triple Collocation analyses.
Then, we discuss the relevance of these analyses in the context of end users requirements, and propose an extreme events-detection analysis based on anomalies of the Standardized Precipitation Index and satellite-based soil moisture anomalies. The results show that: (1) both ASCAT and SMOS spatial anomalies data are able to reproduce the expected SM spatial patterns of the area, (2) both ASCAT and SMOS temporal anomalies are able to follow the measured in situ SM temporal anomalies and (3) both products were able to monitor large Standardized Precipitation Index extremes, at least in conditions where crop biomass was moderate to low.