UAH Earth System Science Center Research Scientist and Associate State Climatologist Dr. Lee Ellenburg, along with other staff members from the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority (CPYRWMA) installed four soil moisture sensors and a temperature sensor inside the CPYRWMA watershed. The sensors for soil moisture were designed by Ellenburg’s team at UAH.
The project is funded by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s office of atmospheric and Oceanic Research’s Weather Program Office, Dr. Ellenburg is leading the effort to create an extensive system of sensors for soil moisture throughout the Southeast. At present, there are just 18 soil moisture sensors installed across the 52,000 square miles of Alabama from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and there are many gaps in information.
Real-time information from soil moisture sensors will show the changes in soil moisture across the entire landscape of Alabama according to weather conditions such as soil type, vegetation and soil and measures levels of moisture from the surface to around two feet below the ground.
As per Lisa Harris, CPYRWMA director The sensors will improve their Flood Warning System and provide useful information to all citizens such as foresters and farmers. The information on how quickly soils are drying out during the dry periods in the growing season aids farmers in becoming more drought-resistant and understand the impact of drought when seeking federal aid. This information also assists the Forestry Commission when making decisions regarding prescribed burning.
The article Soil moisture and sensors for temperature installed in area watersheds was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
