Inference of extractable soil moisture in the plant root zone at the Walnut River Watershed.

Soil moisture content is a crucial variable in studies of hydrology, meteorology, and plant sciences. Soil moisture content influences the ability of land to hold additional water from precipitation and thus affects groundwater levels and runoff. Evapotranspiration rates are strongly influenced by soil moisture content near the surface; evapotranspiration regulates surface air temperature and is a major factor in modifying the water vapor content of the atmosphere. Adequate soil moisture is essential for plant growth; excesses and deficits of soil moisture must be considered in agricultural management practices. Soil moisture can be measured by a variety of in situ techniques, but such techniques often are inadequate for evaluation over large areas because of strong temporal and spatial variations. Here, a technique using standard surface meteorological observations together with remote sensing data from satellites is discussed.