Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Atmospheric and Earth Science
Committee Chair
John Mecikalski
Committee Member
Vilkalp Mishra
Committee Member
John Christy
Subject(s)
Soil moisture--Remotes sensing, Soil moisture--Ala.bama--Measurement--Instruments
Abstract
The Atmospheric Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) model uses Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) thermal bands to derive daily evapotranspiration estimates at the continental scale. These data are used to derive a weekly Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) representing standardized anomalies of the actual to potential evapotranspiration ratio (AET/PET). ESI is functionally related to the root zone soil moisture content. As the AET/PET ratio approaches unity, the greater the available water at the root zone is for agricultural fields, whereas the opposite is true during periods of drought. However, the relationship between ALEXI ESI and root zone soil moisture may not be linear or consistent across space or time. Therefore, there is a desire to better understand the relationship between ALEXI ESI and real soil moisture values, as well as an empirical knowledge of what ESI means in relation to point measurements of soil moisture on the ground. This thesis will provide such discussion on ESI and weekly-corrected, in-situ, volumetric soil moisture values from a collection of SCAN stations across Alabama. The implications of this research will lead to a better understanding of how ALEXI ESI can be used as an indicator for agriculture and flash drought in the Southeastern U.S.
Recommended Citation
Walker, Corey, "Evaluation of atmospheric land exchange inverse model evaporative stress index utilizing soil climate analysis network stations in Alabama" (2023). Theses. 499.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/499