Three monitoring networks operate in the SMAPEx study area during these intensive field experiments:

• OzNet network of permanent sites (2003-present), measuring profile soil moisture and temperatures;
• SMAPEx network of semi-permanent sites (2010-present), measuring surface soil moisture and temperatures;
• Supplementary network of temporary sites (September 2011), measuring profile soil temperature and soil moisture, thermal infrared, leaf wetness and rainfall.

Data from the OzNet and SMAPEx networks are available on the OzNet website.

SMAPEx and OzNet networks

Monitoring networks

Instrument for OzNet station	Instrument for SMAPEx station

Supplementary network

In addition to the available permanent soil moisture monitoring network provided by OzNet and the semi-permament network installed for the SMAPEx project, supplementary temporary monitoring stations have been installed during the SMAPEx campaign. The supplementary stations were distributed across the study area to monitor vegetation and soil temperature in representative areas on the basis of dominant vegetation types. During September 2011, the area was mostly occupied by wheat, canola, grass and pasture. Supplementary station data can be downloaded from Download Centre.

Locations of supplementary monitoring stations

These short-term monitoring stations have been instrumented with a raingauge, thermal infrared sensor (Thermalert Tx or Apogee SI-121), leaf wetness sensor (MEA LWS v1.1), two soil moisture sensors (Delta-T Thetaprobes; 0-5cm and 20-25cm) and four soil temperature sensors (MEA6507A; 2.5cm, 5cm, 15cm and 40cm depth) in order to provide time series data during the sampling period.

Schematic of the general temporary monitoring station setup

Monitoring station

Supplementary station Data status

Station ID	Vegetation type (height)	Data availability
YS1	Canola (80cm)	01/09-30/09
YS2	Grassland (30cm)	09/09-08/11
YS3	Wheat (40 to 60cm)	04/09-29/09
YS4	Fallow (10cm)	05/09-10/11

 

YS1	YS2
Supplementary station in the forest