Analysis of spatial soil moisture dynamics using wireless sensor networks

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To understand short-term and long-term dynamics in spatial soil moisture patterns at the small catchment scale, appropriate measurement techniques are needed. Recently developed wireless sensor networks help to bridge the gap between local (e. g. hydrogeophysical methods) and regional soil moisture measurement techniques (e. g. satellite borne remote sensing). Wireless sensor networks like SoilNet routinely provide continuous soil moisture data with both high temporal and spatial resolution, also spatial coverage of a given test site. An essential requirement for the development of a wireless sensor network is the selection of appropriate soil water content sensors. Low-cost sensors are often criticized concerning their measurement accuracy in terms of considerable variation between individual sensors, temperature-dependency and spurious effects of electrical conductivity on the sensor response.