Observation uncertainty of satellite soil moisture products determined with physically-based modeling

Accurate estimates of soil moisture as initial conditions to hydrological models are expected to greatly increase the accuracy of flood and drought predictions. As in-situ soil moisture observations are scarce, satellite-based estimates are a suitable alternative. The validation of remotely sensed soil moisture products is generally hampered by the difference in spatial support of in-situ observations and satellite footprints. Unsaturated zone modeling may serve as a valuable validation tool because it could bridge the gap of different spatial supports. A stochastic, distributed unsaturated zone model (SWAP) was used in which the spatial support was matched to these of the satellite soil moisture retrievals. A comparison between point observations and the SWAP model was performed to enhance understanding of the model and to assure that the SWAP model could be used with confidence for other locations in Spain. A timeseries analysis was performed to compare surface soil moisture from the SWAP model to surface soil moisture retrievals from three different microwave sensors, including AMSR-E, SMOS and ASCAT. Results suggest that temporal dynamics are best captured by AMSR-E and ASCAT resulting in an averaged correlation coefficient of 0.68 and 0.71, respectively. SMOS shows the capability of capturing the long-term trends, however on short timescales the soil moisture signal was not captured as well as by the other sensors, resulting in an averaged correlation coefficient of 0.42. Root mean square errors for the three sensors were found to be very similar (± 0.05 m3m− 3). The satellite uncertainty is spatially correlated and distinct spatial patterns are found over Spain.

► A distributed unsaturated zone model (SWAP) is used at a high spatial resolution.
► The SWAP model was compared to soil moisture retrievals from AMSR-E, SMOS and ASCAT.
► AMSR-E and ASCAT have the best average correlations, of 0.68 and 0.71, respectively.
► Root mean square errors for the three sensors were found to be ± 0.05 m3/m3.
► The satellite uncertainty is spatially correlated and patterns are found over Spain.