SSHCZO -- Soil Moisture -- COSMOS Probe -- Shale Hills -- (2011-2016)

OVERVIEW

Description/Abstract

The COsmic-ray Soil Moisture Observing System (COSMOS) involves measuring low-energy cosmic-ray neutrons above the ground, whose intensity is inversely correlated with soil water content and with water in any form above ground level (Note: the contributions from subsurface and surface waters are distinguishable). The instrument, called a 'cosmic-ray moisture probe,' is brand new, but it is built on existing technologies that are put together in an innovative way. The use of such tried and tested technologies means the instrument and the technique are less likely to fail when deployed. It is proposed to use this novel technique to measure soil moisture content (and/or snow/vegetation water) in a network of 500 cosmicray water probes installed across the USA. Most probes will be installed in existing facilities, which will simplify the logistics, make the probes secure, and facilitate long-term operations and maintenance. The following data will be available to all in near-real time over the internet: neutron counts in two energy bands (fast, > 1 keV; and thermal, < 0.5 eV), soil water content, snow pack water equivalent (and possibly also vegetation water equivalent), temperature, pressure and relative humidity. The deployment will be in two phases: (1) Years 1-2: 50 probes, to identify and rectify any remnant technical issues associated with routine field use of the instrument; to identify and rectify any data collection, processing and distribution issues; and to better understand probe responses over different terranes and vegetations; (2) Years 3-5: 450 probes forming the COSMOS network. The facility will continue operating indefinitely after deployment, perhaps under the auspices of a government agency, to provide data on a continuing basis. (Text from COSMOS project web site at the University of Arizona - see external link.)

Creator/Author

Zreda, Marek|Shuttleworth, William J.

CZOs

Shale Hills

Contact

Marek Zreda, marek@hwr.arizona.edu

SUBJECTS

Disciplines

Geophysics|Hydrology

Topics

Soil Moisture

Subtopic

COSMOS Probe

Keywords

cosmic rays|neutron count|radiation|soil moisture|shale hills|czo

Variables

Count Interval End Date|Count Interval End Time|Fast Neutron Count (/hr)|Thermal Neutron Count (/hr)|Atmospheric Pressure (mb)|Atmospheric Temperature (deg C)|Relative Humidity (%)|Battery Voltage (V)|Soil Moisture (% Volumetric)|Effective Measurement Depth (cm)|SM12H (boxcar filtered soil moisture )|D12 (boxcar filtered measurement depth)

Variables ODM2

Barometric pressure|Battery voltage|Counter|Relative humidity|Volumetric water content|Neutron Count

TEMPORAL

Date Start

2011-07-06

Date End

2016-02-08

Date Range Comments

End Date should always be current day. Posted End Date is last time this page was edited.

SPATIAL

Field Areas

Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory

Location

Shale Hills

North latitude

40.664915

South latitude

40.664915

West longitude

-77.904161

East longitude

-77.904161

REFERENCE

Citation

COSMOS is supported by the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Division of the National Science Foundation.

CZO ID

2646

External Links

COSMOS Probe Information | Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory - COSMOS Data Overview |