Monitoring Soil Wetness Using Ground-Based L-Band Scatterometer

Microwave scatterometers have been used in both ground-based and platform-mounted remote sensing applications. The primary use of microwave scatterometers in ground-based applications is measuring and monitoring soil moisture. However, the determination of suitable frequency of the scatterometer for detecting soil saturation for different soil types is a topic still under study. The present study is an extensive field-based experimental work done in the state of Assam in India, considering alluvium-rich soil of the Brahmaputra valley. The L-band of microwave range is considered for the field testing and determining suitable configuration of the scatterometer, for monitoring soil wetness, as presented in detail in the paper. The configuration is found to be suitable in detecting the changes in soil moisture and identifying pre-saturation conditions of the soil also.