SMALT - Soil moisture from Altimetry
The SMALT project is an ESA funded initiative which aims to derive surface soil moisture from satellite altimeter data. The aims of this project re three-fold: firstly, to utilise historical data to create and prototype a methodology to derive surface soil moisture from altimetry: secondly to validate the measurements with both ground based and other space based datasets; and thirdly, to utilise altimeter soil moisture to cross-calibrate the SMOS measurements. During the project, an altimeter derived soil moisture product will be designed and generated; this will be made available to the global community through the European Space Agency.
The EAPRS Lab has already successfully derived soil moisture estimates within the top 5cm of soil over parts of Australia; initial validation results are extremely good (see SMOS Cal/Val page for further information). This methodology is currently being enhanced and tuned for optimal measurement capability. In parallel with this, TUWien and STARLAB are analysing other space based techniques for soil moisture retrieval; these will be used in parallel with the altimeter derived measurements for SMALT validation and derivation of other combined products. This exciting and novel development started earlier this year; the expected duration is 14 months.