Article

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission

Dara EntekhabiMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USAE. G. NjokuJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAPeggy O’NeillNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USAKent KelloggJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAWade T. CrowUSDA ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab, Beltsville, MD, USAW. EdelsteinJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAJared EntinShawn D. GoodmanJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAThomas J. JacksonUSDA ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab, Beltsville, MD, USAJoel T. JohnsonOhio State University, Columbus, OH, USAJohn S. KimballThe University of Montana, Polson, MT, USAJeffrey R. PiepmeierNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USARandal D. KosterNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USANeil MartinNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USAKyle C. McDonaldJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAMahta MoghaddamUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USASusan MoranUSDA Southwest Watershed Research Center, Tucson, AZ, USARolf H. ReichleNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USAJiancheng ShiUniversity of California, San Diego, Santa Barbara, CA, USAMichael SpencerJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USASamuel W. ThurmanJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USALeung TsangUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAJakob van ZylJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2010en

ABI

Abstract

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is one of the first Earth observation satellites being developed by NASA in response to the National Research Council's Decadal Survey. SMAP will make global measurements of the soil moisture present at the Earth's land surface and will distinguish frozen from thawed land surfaces. Direct observations of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state from space will allow significantly improved estimates of water, energy, and carbon transfers between the land and the atmosphere. The accuracy of numerical models of the atmosphere used in weather prediction and climate projections are critically dependent on the correct characterization of these transfers. Soil moisture measurements are also directly applicable to flood assessment and drought monitoring. SMAP observations can help monitor these natural hazards, resulting in potentially great economic and social benefits. SMAP observations of soil moisture and freeze/thaw timing will also reduce a major uncertainty in quantifying the global carbon balance by helping to resolve an apparent missing carbon sink on land over the boreal latitudes. The SMAP mission concept will utilize L-band radar and radiometer instruments sharing a rotating 6-m mesh reflector antenna to provide high-resolution and high-accuracy global maps of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state every two to three days. In addition, the SMAP project will use these observations with advanced modeling and data assimilation to provide deeper root-zone soil moisture and net ecosystem exchange of carbon. SMAP is scheduled for launch in the 2014-2015 time frame.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1109/jproc.2010.2043918

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