Systems and methods for soil moisture estimation
First Claim
1. A method for estimating near-surface soil moisture, the method comprising:
- measuring signals from a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave propagating as a ground wave between two or more receiving element locations, the two or more receiving element locations separated from each other by at least one kilometer;
determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and
determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from analyzing the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and a predetermined regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide estimates of soil moisture by measuring the change in electrical conductivity near the surface of the earth using surface-propagated electromagnetic fields. A method is provided for estimating near-surface soil moisture, including measuring signals from an electromagnetic ground wave propagating between one or more receiving element locations, determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from analyzing the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and a predetermined regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for estimating near-surface soil moisture, the method comprising:
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measuring signals from a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave propagating as a ground wave between two or more receiving element locations, the two or more receiving element locations separated from each other by at least one kilometer; determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from analyzing the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and a predetermined regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for estimating near-surface soil moisture, the method comprising:
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measuring signals from a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave propagating as a ground wave produced by one or more man-made narrowband transmitters in the frequency range of 30 kHz 5 MHz at two or more receiving element locations, the two or more receiving element locations separated from each other by at least one kilometer; determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and knowledge of the regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for estimating near-surface soil moisture, the method comprising:
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measuring signals from an electromagnetic wave propagating as a vertically polarized ground wave produced by one or more return strokes of cloud-to-ground lightning from at least one receiving element location; determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between the locations of the lightning and one or more receiving elements; determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from; the determined electrical conductivity between a lightning strike location and at least one receiving element location; and knowledge of the regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for estimating near-surface soil moisture, the method comprising:
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synthesizing a broadband signal for propagation as a ground wave; transmitting the synthesized signal from a transmitting element location as a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave coupled to a ground propagation medium at known times; measuring one or more received signals at one or more receiving element locations separated from each other by at least one kilometer; determining a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between pairs of locations; and determining estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from the determined electrical conductivity between the transmitting element location and at least one receiving element location and knowledge of the regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A soil moisture monitoring system comprising:
a data collection and management component coupled to; one or more RF receiving elements respectively located at one or more receiving element locations, the receiving element locations separated from each other by at least one kilometer; and an input archive; a central processing component coupled to; the data collection and management component; a product generator for delivering processed information products; and an output archive; and a memory coupled to the processing component and storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processing component to; obtain signals measured from a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave propagating as a ground wave between a transmitter and at least one receiving element location; determine a transfer characteristic proportional to an average electrical conductivity between the transmitter and at least one receiving element; and determine estimated soil moisture in one or more regions derived from analyzing the determined electrical conductivity between pairs of locations and a predetermined regional relationship between electrical conductivity and soil moisture. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
Specification