Articles tagged with Soil Moisture
A new study by Colorado State University reveals that ag irrigation prevents higher greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding land conversion, saving 363 years' worth of emissions. Irrigation allows the US to grow more food on less land, reducing land-use change and its associated emissions.
A study proposes an operational framework combining machine learning models with Sentinel-2 data to estimate agricultural drought conditions in irrigated and non-irrigated maize fields. Deep Neural Network (DNN) achieved the best performance, showing higher prediction accuracy and lower error metrics for non-irrigated fields.
Research by CSU scientists found that soil organic carbon benefits crops the most during moderate water supply conditions, not extreme drought. Increasing soil organic carbon makes crops more stable and resilient from year to year.
Researchers developed an attention-guided Transformer model that learns unique strengths of each satellite mission, preserving differences in constellation design and observation geometry. The approach achieved high correlation coefficients and low RMSE values against references, especially in arid regions.
A new catalog centralizes publicly available soil moisture content datasets, streamlining data discovery and comparison. The UB-SMDC portal provides a unified platform for researchers to efficiently access and analyze global soil moisture data.
A new study published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes shows that changing soil water levels can disrupt the balance between two key steps of nitrification, a central process in the soil nitrogen cycle. Soil moisture and nitrogen availability jointly control the microbial 'handoff' in agricultural soil nitrogen cycling.
A new study reveals that the Atacama Desert's hyperarid core became arid 45 million years ago, contradicting previous assumptions. The research team used cosmogenic nuclide dating to analyze quartz clasts and found exceptionally high concentrations of rare isotopes, indicating that surface clasts remained undisturbed for tens of millio...
Researchers introduced a simplified soil vapor transport scheme to address a common issue in conventional land-surface models, which struggle to realistically represent soil drying in arid regions. The revised model produces more realistic drying in near-surface soil layers by representing the movement of water vapor through soil pores.
A new study developed China's high-precision, 1 km resolution soil moisture dataset using machine learning techniques. This dataset enables daily monitoring of soil dryness and wetness conditions across the country, providing critical support for drought early warning, flood forecasting, and agricultural management.
Researchers found that removing typhoon-induced precipitation leads to sharply declining soil moisture and more severe drought conditions worldwide. The effect of typhoons varies by region, acting as a condition that exacerbates drought in some areas, while mitigating it in others.
Researchers found interactions between soil moisture patterns and wind in the lowest atmosphere influence where storms develop, providing clues to forecasters about location. The study aims to improve certainty about upcoming storms on hot days and save lives, livestock, and property.
Researchers at Colorado State University found that some tropical forest plants are adapting to drought by growing longer root systems, potentially helping reduce vulnerability. The study's findings suggest flexibility under drying conditions may rescue the forest, but long-term implications remain uncertain.
A new study reveals a significant interdecadal shift in European summer hot days around 1998, driven by remote climate signals and exacerbated by regional land–atmosphere processes. Soil moisture decreased over Europe, intensifying the land–air coupling strength, leading to enhanced hot days.
Researchers have developed a new hybrid model that combines physical radiative transfer equations with neural networks to accurately retrieve soil moisture across China. The model achieved outstanding accuracy and generalization at a 1-km resolution, providing a powerful approach for global hydrological and climatic monitoring.
A new study analyzing soils across Kansas found that the legacy effects of soil microbes can have significant impacts on plant growth, particularly for native species. Researchers discovered that plants grown with microbes adapted to specific local conditions performed better under drought conditions, suggesting a potential source of g...
A Northwestern University study discovered that organic matter enhances soil's ability to retain water, even in desert-like conditions. Carbohydrates form bridges between organic molecules and soil minerals, locking in moisture that would otherwise evaporate.
A new study reveals that a combination of large-scale atmospheric circulation and strong soil moisture feedback contributed to North China's record-breaking three-day heatwave in late June 2023. The study found that the extreme heat was amplified by an unusually dry season, with temperatures soaring past 40°C in some areas.
The study reveals that grasslands adopt more aggressive strategies than forests when facing water shortages, with plants in grasslands using water aggressively until it's gone. In contrast, forests adopt more conservative strategies, cutting back on water use early to avoid disaster.
Researchers found biochar improved soil's ability to hold nutrients and moisture, giving cotton plants better growth conditions. Biochar also helps improve water quality by keeping nitrates in the soil and out of groundwater.
A new study found that global climate conditions affect the spore traits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, influencing their survival, spread, and interaction with plants. The research provides insights into the environmental adaptations of microorganisms, which could guide soil restoration and food production.
A multi-state study found inconsistent results on the performance of 'penetrants' and 'retainers,' emphasizing the importance of evidence-based surfactant classification. The research showed varying effects on rootzone volumetric water content and surface firmness, depending on location and turfgrass species.
Researchers developed a nonlinear model that captures plants' dynamic response to water stress, revealing 'water spenders' and 'water savers.' The model improves climate predictions and informs water management, providing insights into plant adaptations and soil drydowns.
A study by Göttingen University researchers combined satellite data with manual measurements to better understand forest soil moisture. The findings show that soil moisture is strongly influenced by weather and season, not exact location, and highlight the importance of monitoring soil moisture over time for effective forest management.
A PolyU research team found a rapid decline in global soil moisture over the past 40 years, resulting in significant water loss and sea level rise. The study suggests that precipitation deficits, global warming, and changing rainfall patterns are key factors behind this depletion.
Researchers used satellite data to analyze the impact of dust on snowmelt in the Colorado River Basin. The study found that dust-driven melting tends to peak earliest and be most intense in central-southern Rocky Mountains, accelerating spring melt rates by up to 1 mm water-equivalent per hour.
A study in Brazil's Caatinga biome found that removing animals from degraded pastures did not restore soil health after three years. Green manure and strategic tree planting are recommended to accelerate ecological recovery. Soils show severe degradation, with carbon loss and decline in holistic soil health index.
A new study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology reveals that soil moisture levels can increase rainfall area and amount in megastorm hotspots globally by up to 30%. This contrast results from atmospheric changes, enabling communities to better adapt to climate change.
A new study reveals that UK peatland fires are responsible for up to 90% of annual fire-driven carbon emissions, with emissions set to rise by at least 60% if the planet warms by 2°C. Researchers found that rewetting peatlands can help reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change.
A new study reveals the extreme vulnerability of young volcanic soils to wildfires in the Arequipa shrublands of Peru. The research found that vegetation and soil combustion, combined with post-fire erosion, have caused a severe loss of soil organic carbon, hindering ecosystem recovery.
Despite decades of restoration efforts, biodiversity growth has stalled in restored Danish wetlands. The study highlights the need for concrete measures such as grazing animals and full restoration of watercourses to improve plant species richness.
Researchers found a link between El Niño events and increased fire risk in the Amazon region, particularly where groundwater storage is compromised. The study highlights the critical role of groundwater in sustaining vegetation during droughts, emphasizing the need for prevention efforts during extreme climatic conditions.
The UN reports that over 77.6% of the world's land experienced drier conditions in recent decades, with drylands expanding by nearly a third larger than India. This trend is driven by human-caused climate change and has dire implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and people living in affected areas.
Researchers from Brazil and Spain developed computer models to estimate crop maturity and yield using remote sensing technologies, increasing productivity and reducing CO2 emissions. They also created a system to estimate soil moisture levels with high accuracy, helping growers manage water usage more efficiently.
A study published by researchers from Göttingen University sheds light on the critical role of leaf phenology in trees providing shade and improving climate resilience in cocoa agroforestry systems. The research found that certain shade tree species can significantly influence productivity and environmental stability.
Higher temperatures caused by climate change are increasing evaporation enough to cause exceptional droughts in the American West. Evaporative demand now accounts for 61% of drought severity, while reduced precipitation only accounts for 39%. Climate change is expected to lead to more severe and longer-lasting droughts.
Researchers estimate that climate change played a significant role in the severity of the 2022 European drought, which affected an area larger than at any time since 1960. The study found that climate change contributed to 31% of the soil moisture deficit and 38% of the drought-affected area.
A new study warns that future climate change will intensify wildfires in the Arctic region, leading to an abrupt switch from no fires to very intense ones within just a few years. The accelerated permafrost thawing is expected to increase soil water and vegetation biomass, exacerbating fire fuel.
A pioneering method for soil moisture retrieval using satellite navigation systems has been introduced, significantly boosting the accuracy and efficiency of global data collection. This research tackles the challenges posed by geographical disparities in soil moisture assessment.
Researchers developed a novel predictive model to accurately predict soil resistivity, reducing the need for extensive testing and modifications. The study's findings can optimize substation grounding designs, cutting costs while maintaining regulatory compliance.
A study published in PLOS Water found associations between weather, geographic location, and urban/rural settings with waterborne infectious disease hospitalizations. Hospitalization rates were higher for enteric and biofilm-forming bacterial pathogens in areas using groundwater, while precipitation increased parasitic infections.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure soil moisture in the vadose zone using seismic technology that detects vibrations from traffic noise. The technique, called distributed acoustic sensing, can provide real-time information on soil water content, crucial for managing water use and conservation efforts.
Researchers developed low-cost, real-time sensors that can monitor nitrate in soil, enabling farmers to make informed decisions on fertilizer usage. The sensors have been tested in various soil types and showed accurate results.
A recent Illinois-led study found that soil moisture variability remains consistent across growing and non-growing seasons in fields across the Midwest. The research team used sensor measurements and remote sensing data to reveal a stable pattern of dry and wet areas, which can be used to estimate high-resolution soil moisture products.
Researchers found that oil palm plantations in Indonesia's Kais River Watershed are causing significant increases in precipitation, runoff, and soil moisture, leading to dramatically worse water quality. The transition from tropical rainforest to oil-palm plantation has resulted in a 16.9% increase in sedimentation, 78.1% increase in n...
A new AI model, DyLEMa, reduces ET prediction uncertainty by up to 30% and captures land use dynamics accurately. The model improves daily continuous ET data generation and estimation of soil erosion.
A 14-year study in the Brazilian savanna-like biome found that tree basal area increased while density decreased, and community diversity increased slightly. The researchers discovered that 54% of initial trees had died, replaced by new growth, highlighting the rapid degeneration of cerradão into a biodiversity-poor forest formation.
A 23-year 'megadrought' in the western US is being studied by WVU researcher Steve Kannenberg to understand its effects on natural ecosystems, agricultural systems and human water resources. The research aims to identify areas with depleted groundwater and soil moisture, as well as assess carbon capture and storage in dryland plants.
A new study finds that extreme tropical cyclone rainfall is increasing across the continental US, while climate warming restricts 'outdoor days' for people living in developing countries. Additionally, air pollution increases mortality risks from heat, especially when combined with other factors like wildfires and reduced aerosols.
A new study reveals that human activity has altered the global freshwater cycle, resulting in a significant increase in dry and wet deviations. The research found that the frequency and spread of these exceptions have nearly doubled compared to pre-industrial conditions.
A recent Harvard University study found that soil moisture increased across 57% of the US during summer between 2011-2020, contradicting the assumption that rising temperatures lead to drier soils. Precipitation, rather than temperature, is the primary driver of soil moisture trends.
The researchers conclude that intensive agricultural cultivation has reduced the landscape's water storage capacity, leading to severe droughts. Restoring natural habitats can restore soil structure, allowing for evapotranspiration and guaranteeing rainfall in drought years.
Researchers found a delayed influence of Tibetan plateau's spring heat source on Northeast China's summer precipitation. Soil moisture plays a crucial role in this process, facilitating increased rainfall in the Yellow River basin and North China.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed an uncrewed surface vehicle to measure nitrate concentration and water depth in a reservoir. The study reveals seasonal variations in nitrate levels and the importance of considering timing and weather conditions in water quality assessments.
Researchers at UH are expanding research knowledge and building a new curriculum for students to address climate change impacts on food crops. They aim to improve plant growth and build resistance against extreme weather events, such as droughts and heat waves.
A new study by Prof. Ehud Meron and colleagues proposes that pairing spatial patterning and phenotypic changes is the missing link to understanding fairy circles. The researchers found that combining plant-level phenotypic changes with population-level spatial patterning can result in resilient ecosystem responses to water stress.
Forest microclimates are weakened by soil droughts, leading to hotter temperatures in forest understories. This can have devastating effects on small tree seedlings and forest biodiversity as a whole.
Researchers have discovered a unique mechanism by which the desert shrub Tamarix aphylla captures moisture from the air, allowing it to thrive in arid environments. The plant excretes salts to extract and condense water onto its leaves, which can then be absorbed.
Osaka University researchers create a wirelessly powered, biodegradable soil moisture sensing technology that can be installed in high densities, enabling precision agriculture with minimized land and water use. The system achieves both electronic functionality and biodegradability, allowing for safe disposal of used sensor devices.
A new study finds that global warming will lead to an increase in compound climate extremes such as heavy rainfall and heatwaves, which will have devastating impacts on communities. The regions most affected are already prone to geologic hazards and produce many of the world's crops.
Researchers developed an impacts-based thresholds approach to better prepare Ohio farmers for drought conditions. The method takes into account changes in soil moisture, crops, and livestock losses to provide earlier and more accurate notice of approaching droughts.