Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

Water resources in the soil play an essential role in hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region presents challenges due to the diverse ecosystem types, complex terrain, and harsh environmental condit...

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Main Authors: Yongyong Zhang, Shaoxiong Wu, Wenzhi Zhao, Jianhua Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Geoderma
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706124002751
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author Yongyong Zhang
Shaoxiong Wu
Wenzhi Zhao
Jianhua Xiao
author_facet Yongyong Zhang
Shaoxiong Wu
Wenzhi Zhao
Jianhua Xiao
author_sort Yongyong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Water resources in the soil play an essential role in hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region presents challenges due to the diverse ecosystem types, complex terrain, and harsh environmental conditions. In this study, we introduce an approach for estimating mesoscale soil moisture in the Qilian Mountains (QLM) region of the eastern Tibetan Plateau using a cosmic-ray neutron rover. Soil moisture estimates derived from neutron count rates, newly adjusted by vegetation effects, demonstrated good agreement with soil moisture measurements obtained through soil sampling at 26 calibration sites across the region (RMSE = 0.025 g g−1). The calibration parameter N0_NDVI was 443 cpm in the QLM. Utilizing NDVI as vegetation correction method showed potential improvements in the accuracy of converting neutron counts to soil moisture across the diverse mountainous ecosystem types. The newly developed calibration equation provided a high-precision, high spatial resolution soil moisture transect across various landscapes measured by the rover. The average mesoscale soil moisture along the rover route varied by ecosystem types, with values of 0.10 g/g in deserts, 0.17 g/g in grasslands, 0.13 g/g in forests, 0.18 g/g in subalpine shrublands, and 0.20 g/g in croplands. Land cover types emerged as crucial determinants of mesoscale soil moisture variability in the QLM region. These findings offer valuable mesoscale soil moisture data and new insights into soil water information at the transect scale across diverse ecosystem types in the Tibetan Plateau.
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spelling doaj-art-bca453881ab44ce5ab134e565ad501a62025-08-20T02:17:00ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592024-10-0145011704610.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117046Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan PlateauYongyong Zhang0Shaoxiong Wu1Wenzhi Zhao2Jianhua Xiao3National Field Science Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem in Linze, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding author.Jingdezhen Meteorological Bureau, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi 333000, ChinaNational Field Science Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem in Linze, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaNational Field Science Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem in Linze, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaWater resources in the soil play an essential role in hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region presents challenges due to the diverse ecosystem types, complex terrain, and harsh environmental conditions. In this study, we introduce an approach for estimating mesoscale soil moisture in the Qilian Mountains (QLM) region of the eastern Tibetan Plateau using a cosmic-ray neutron rover. Soil moisture estimates derived from neutron count rates, newly adjusted by vegetation effects, demonstrated good agreement with soil moisture measurements obtained through soil sampling at 26 calibration sites across the region (RMSE = 0.025 g g−1). The calibration parameter N0_NDVI was 443 cpm in the QLM. Utilizing NDVI as vegetation correction method showed potential improvements in the accuracy of converting neutron counts to soil moisture across the diverse mountainous ecosystem types. The newly developed calibration equation provided a high-precision, high spatial resolution soil moisture transect across various landscapes measured by the rover. The average mesoscale soil moisture along the rover route varied by ecosystem types, with values of 0.10 g/g in deserts, 0.17 g/g in grasslands, 0.13 g/g in forests, 0.18 g/g in subalpine shrublands, and 0.20 g/g in croplands. Land cover types emerged as crucial determinants of mesoscale soil moisture variability in the QLM region. These findings offer valuable mesoscale soil moisture data and new insights into soil water information at the transect scale across diverse ecosystem types in the Tibetan Plateau.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706124002751Qilian MountainsNeutron countsCosmic-ray neutron roverIn-situ experimentsSoil water content
spellingShingle Yongyong Zhang
Shaoxiong Wu
Wenzhi Zhao
Jianhua Xiao
Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Geoderma
Qilian Mountains
Neutron counts
Cosmic-ray neutron rover
In-situ experiments
Soil water content
title Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
title_full Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
title_fullStr Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
title_full_unstemmed Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
title_short Mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
title_sort mesoscale soil moisture measurements along the rover route using the mobile cosmic ray neutron sensing in the eastern tibetan plateau
topic Qilian Mountains
Neutron counts
Cosmic-ray neutron rover
In-situ experiments
Soil water content
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706124002751
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