Towards an Active and Passive L- and P-band soil moisture satellite mission

该项目通过一系列机载野外试验，使用最先进的主动/被动(即雷达/辐射计)P-/L波段(即微波)卫星概念来测试土壤水分遥感的替代配置。在气候多变的情况下，及时的土壤水分信息对于改善粮食生产的水管理至关重要。所面临的挑战是，要在大片区域内以适当的时空细节准确地做到这一点，并使土壤深度与影响作物/牧场生长和影响管理决策的土层非常接近。较长的P波段允许更深地穿透土壤，而主动/被动组合使用各自的分辨率和精度特性。

This project tests alternate configurations for remote sensing of soil moisture using a new state-of-the-art Active/Passive (ie radar/radiometer) P-/L-band (ie microwave) satellite concept through a series of airborne field experiments. Timely soil moisture information is critical to improved water management for food production in the face of climate variability. The challenge is to do this accurately over large areas with an appropriate spatio-temporal detail, and for a soil depth that closely approximates the layer which impacts crop/pasture growth and influences management decisions. The longer P-band allows deeper penetration into the soil while the active/passive combination uses the respective resolution and accuracy characteristics.