Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What if we can not make all the measurements?
A: Do what you can. There are two different sensors being tested so both soil temperature and soil moisture data are useful.

Q:When will we be able to see the results of this study?
A: I will post summaries of GLOBE data at least monthly. Comparisons of both satellite and GLOBE data might not be available until next Fall.

Q:Exactly what satellite and sensor data is being collected?
A: We are using data from two satellites. They both measure long-wave radiation, but based on different techniques and at different wavelengths:

1. NOAA's Special Sensor Microwave Imager (see www.ssmi.com) emissivity which is the factor of proportionality between radiated energy and the fourth power of temperature M = sigma*emissivity*T^4, it is related to how different the surface behaves relative to a "blackbody" radiator.
2. NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (see www.goes.noaa.gov) Thermal Infrared (TIR), which is another measure of the long-wave radiation (the T above, but at a different wavelength)

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