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Update on Kyeamba Creek NAFE study.

(1) Intro the study (reminder)

(2) Go over reviewers comments from NAFE special edition letter

(3) Upscaling to Kyeamba data.

Dr Greg Summerell. DECC Wagga Wagga NSW

Mr Victor Shoemark. DPI Wagga Wagga NSW

Sandy Grant DECC Wagga Wagga NSW

Jeff Walker University of Melbourne

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Kyeamba Creek monitoring network

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Livingstone Creek Study area

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Field sampling (3 samples per site).

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PUBLICATION Submitted to NAFE special edition.

Using passive microwave response to soil moisture change for soil mapping: A case study for the Livingstone Creek Catchment

Quickly present the paper

Discuss reviewers comments.

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Soil Moisture: Continuous trace, Discrete field sample, PLMR Brightness

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PLMR Brightness

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PLMR Brightnessimages

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Major geological features

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Subtle differences between soil landscapes

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Differences at soil facet level (Ridge tops, mid and lower slopes on a hillslope).

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Reviewers comments

Both reviewers agree that your topic can be a useful important addition to the literature--particularly as it is one of first addressing the apparent correlation of spatial soil moisture patterns to landscape controls. However, both reviewers also agree that the connection needs to be made more strongly and more quantitatively, and I would agree.

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Comments continued

More needs to be done to establish that these surface patterns are attributable to soil characteristics and not precipitation patterns (which is not discussed).

You use a qualitative visual approach where a statistical approach would be more in place. If you truly calculate the spatial correlation between the two maps, the comparison study would become more valuable for the scientific community.

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Correlating Spatial patterns:

Observed Predicted

Observed not Predicted

Observed and PredictedPredicted not Observed

Not Observed Andnot Predicted

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Comments

In your letter you describe the strong relationship between soil properties and low frequency brightness temperatures. Scientists where already aware of this relationship since the seventies (e.g. Hipp, 1974 IEEE; Schmugge 1975: JGR; Eagleman and Lin 1976 JGR). I believe that a small section of the early work in the introduction would be good addition.

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Comments continued

Try to use polarization ratios (Tbh/Tbv) in figure 2 in stead of brightness temperatures. Now the brightness temperatures are mainly a function of soil moisture and temperature (vegetation contribution is apparently very small). With the use of polarization ratio you eliminate the effect of temperature. I also expect that the correlation will increase.

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Future work: Down Scaling From Kyeamba Creek to Livingstone Creek (not up scaling).