Determination of Soil Water Content at Intermediate Spatial Scale Using Cosmic-Ray Neutrons

0126241Zreda这个概念验证项目将提供数据，以测试土壤水分测定新方法的可行性。该方法是基于土壤中水分子中存在的氢原子对宇宙射线中子的热化。它有几个吸引人的特点：它是非侵入性的(可以在地面上进行测量)；它测量中等尺度的水分；它可以通过改变仪器位置和/或配置进行缩放；它可以很容易地实现自动化，进行长期的无监督监测；它是安全的(它不使用人工中子源)。拟议的工作将涉及在受控水分条件下的宇宙射线中子强度的测量和建模。拟议研究的具体目标是：(1)确定和量化中子强度随水分含量和土壤化学变化的任何趋势；(2)量化放置在土壤顶部的水层对中子强度的影响；(3)确定测量体积以及是否可以通过仪器在地面上的位置或仪器配置来控制测量体积。

0126241ZredaThis proof-of-concept project will provide data to test the feasibility of a new method for soil water determination. The method is based on thermalization of cosmic-ray neutrons by hydrogen atoms present within water molecules in soils. It has several appealing characteristics: it is noninvasive (measurements can be conducted above the ground); it measures moisture at an intermediate scale; it may be scalable by changing instrument position and/or configuration; it can be easily automated for long-tern unsupervised monitoring; and it is safe (it does not use an artificial source of neutrons). The proposed work will involve measurements and modeling of the intensity of cosmic-ray neutrons under controlled water content conditions. The specific objectives of the proposed research are: (1) to identify and quantify any trends in neutron intensity with water content and with chemistry of soil; (2) to quantify the effect of water layer placed on top of soil on the neutron intensity; and (3) to determine what the measurement volume is and whether it can be controlled by instrument position above the ground or by instrument configuration.