The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission

Dara Entekhabi(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), E. G. Njoku(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Peggy O’Neill(Goddard Space Flight Center), Kent Kellogg(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Wade T. Crow(Agricultural Research Service), W. Edelstein(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Jared Entin, Shawn D. Goodman(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Thomas J. Jackson(Agricultural Research Service), Joel T. Johnson(The Ohio State University), John S. Kimball(University of Montana), Jeffrey R. Piepmeier(Goddard Space Flight Center), Randal D. Koster(Goddard Space Flight Center), Neil Martin(Goddard Space Flight Center), Kyle C. McDonald(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Mahta Moghaddam(University of Michigan), Susan Moran(Southwest Watershed Research Center), Rolf H. Reichle(Goddard Space Flight Center), Jiancheng Shi(University of California, Santa Barbara), Michael Spencer(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Samuel W. Thurman(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Leung Tsang(University of Washington), Jakob van Zyl(Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Proceedings of the IEEE
May 1, 2010
10.1109/jproc.2010.2043918
Cited by 3,697Open Access
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Abstract

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is one of the first Earth observation satellites being developed by NASA in response to the National Research Council's Decadal Survey. SMAP will make global measurements of the soil moisture present at the Earth's land surface and will distinguish frozen from thawed land surfaces. Direct observations of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state from space will allow significantly improved estimates of water, energy, and carbon transfers between the land and the atmosphere. The accuracy of numerical models of the atmosphere used in weather prediction and climate projections are critically dependent on the correct characterization of these transfers. Soil moisture measurements are also directly applicable to flood assessment and drought monitoring. SMAP observations can help monitor these natural hazards, resulting in potentially great economic and social benefits. SMAP observations of soil moisture and freeze/thaw timing will also reduce a major uncertainty in quantifying the global carbon balance by helping to resolve an apparent missing carbon sink on land over the boreal latitudes. The SMAP mission concept will utilize L-band radar and radiometer instruments sharing a rotating 6-m mesh reflector antenna to provide high-resolution and high-accuracy global maps of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state every two to three days. In addition, the SMAP project will use these observations with advanced modeling and data assimilation to provide deeper root-zone soil moisture and net ecosystem exchange of carbon. SMAP is scheduled for launch in the 2014-2015 time frame.

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