New project on metrology for determining soil moisture at multiple length scales

Since October 2022, Department 6.4 "Neutron Radiation" has been coordinating a new EU‑funded, three‑year project titled SoMMet (Soil Moisture Metrology). The aim of this project is to develop metrological tools for ensuring the SI traceability and harmonization of soil moisture measurement methods at multiple length scales. These scales range from point‑scale (10^‑1 m to 10¹ m) in‑situ measurements up to large‑scale (10³ m to 10⁴ m) satellite‑based remote sensing techniques. At the intermediate scale (10² m to 10³ m), the method for determining soil moisture via naturally occurring cosmic neutrons backscattered from the ground (cosmic‑ray neutron sensing, CRNS) will be metrologically established under laboratory and field conditions. The SoMMet consortium consists of nine NMIs/DIs and nine research institutions from a total of 11 countries.

Contact

M. Zboril, Department 6.4, Working Group 6.43