International satellite tuning
From the October 2009 edition of Agriculture Today.
Soil moisture data collected near Wagga Wagga will be used to calibrate sensors for the European Space Agencys soon to be launched Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite.
The Livingstone Creek Key Site has been selected as a calibration location because it is internationally recognised for collecting highly accurate moisture data.
For farmers, the aim is to provide information from the satellite about paddock soil moisture conditions, to aid in the timing of crop planting in an increasingly variable climate.
Primary Industries division technical officer, Vic Shoemark, said SMOS was the first satellite dedicated to advancing research into increasing global and regional climate variability, as well as weather and extreme-event forecasting.
"The satellite will help us better understand the water cycle and help improve weather forecasting models," Mr Shoemark said.
Calibrating moisture sensors for SMOS is an international project involving NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and the French Space Agency.
"The satellite is expected to be launched in Russia later this year," Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, said.
Prior to this, final calibration runs of moisture and evapotranspiration sensors matching the ones already on the satellite will be conducted at Wagga in a fixed wing aircraft.
"Detailed hydrological data has been continually recorded over the 25 square kilometre Livingstone Creek Key Site since 2000 as part of the NSW Governments long term approach to natural resource management," Mr Macdonald said.
"The site is fitted with instruments to monitor stream, soil and ground water processes such as soil moisture, soil temperature, rainfall and runoff."
Industry and Investment NSW manages the site, south of Wagga Wagga, and was invited to participate through collaboration with the University of Melbourne.
