These data are the results obtained from sampling the
vegetation biomass. For interpretation of codes used for areas
and sites please refer to the experiment plan. Field notebooks
are available for use at the USDA Hydrology Lab; they will not
be loaned out. Also included in this information file is the
background material from the sampling plan describing the
design and protocols used.
Sampling
Plan
Vegetation water content is important in the soil moisture
retrieval algroithm. The approach used varied with the cover
type and the site. For grass and wheat, all vegetation in a
known area is removed. For corn, a number of plants are
removed and the plant density was estimated
independently.
Protocol
Two teams conducted sampling, Team 1 was performing laser
surface measurements and Team 2 was doing bulk density. As
part of Team 1's activities it was necessary for them to
remove all vegetation from a large area. This resulted in 2
to 3 samples of 1 m2. Team 2 sampled a single smaller area of
approximately 0.2 m2. The approach used was
- Clip all of the standing vegetation at the soil
surface. Use a meter stick to form the fourth side of the
sampling frame. Cut all vegetation within the volume
defined by the sampling frame.
- Place all clipped vegetation in a paper bag (s). Label
each bag with :
- Site # e.g., LW01, ER05, CF01, etc.
- Plot # A, B (for the 2 locations within each field or
site)
- Sample # 1, …. n (if more than one bag must be used for
sample from that plot)
3. Place all bags for a plot in a plastic
bag. DON'T FORGET TO GET THE TARE WEIGHTS FOR THE PAPER AND
PLASTIC BAGS.
4. Keep samples as cool as possible.
5. Upon return to a lab facility do the
following for each plastic bag:
- Remove paper bags from plastic bag
- Weigh and record weight of the plastic bag
- Weigh and record weight of paper bag
5. Place the bags in the dryer. Allow to dry
for 4 days and weigh.
6. When the samples are dry, weigh and record each paper
bag on the appropriate data forms.
7. Samples are converted to g/m2 using the sampling
area.
FTP Site
The Vegetation Summary File from SGP99 resides on DAAC
anonymous FTP. You may access it from this document,
Summary
file (ASCII)
- or directly via FTP at
- ftp disc.gsfc.nasa.gov
- login: anonymous
- password: < your internet address >
- cd /data/sgp99/Vegetation/biomass-water_cont/
Points of
Contact
The Principal Investigator for the SGP99 Vegetation
Sampling data is
Thomas J. Jackson
USDA ARS Hydrology Lab
Bldg. 007, Rm. 104, BARC-West
Beltsville, MD 20705
tjackson@hydrolab.arsusda.gov
301-504-8511 (voice)
For information about or assistance in using SGP99 DAAC
data, contact
Hydrology Data Support Team
EOS Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC)
Code 610.2
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
hydrology-disc@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
301-614-5165 (voice)
301-614-5268 (fax)
Soil Moisture