Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1029/2024WR039727
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Over-water low-energy neutron observations for intensity corrections across cosmic-ray soil moisture sensor networks
Autor McJannet, D.; Rasche, D.; Marano, J.; Hawdon, A.; Stenson, M.; Schrön, M.
Quelle Water Resources Research
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
Department MET
Band/Volume 61
Heft 9
Seite von e2024WR039727
Sprache englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Daten-/Softwarelinks https://doi.org/10.25919/s8sy-m882
Keywords cosmic rays; neutron detection; air humidity; space weather; soil moisture
Abstract Most studies using cosmic-ray neutron sensors (CRNS) for soil moisture estimation use high-energy neutron monitor observations to correct for changes in incoming neutron intensity, but there is interest in over-water CRNS observations and muon observations for such purposes. This study compares these approaches with a focus on observations from an over-water pontoon-based CRNS system. Pontoon and neutron monitor intensity comparisons showed similar responses with the best statistical agreement when neutron monitor observations were from locations of similar cutoff rigidity or when scaling for geomagnetic and elevational effects were applied. Comparison of historic variations in neutron monitor and muon detector intensity, and more recent observations from the pontoon, revealed temporal differences and weaker short-term responses from the muon detector. Time-delays in intensity correction for the pontoon and neutron monitors were observed during a Forbush decrease and through cross-correlation analysis over the comparison period with delays likely a result of longitudinal differences. Pontoon neutron intensity exhibited slightly higher amplitudes over the study period. Some of this was related to periods of irregular water vapour distribution in the atmosphere where current humidity corrections appear insufficient. Application of intensity corrections to soil moisture estimates illustrated the increasing importance of accurate corrections with decreasing cutoff rigidity and increasing elevation. The impact of neutron intensity correction was greatest for wet soil conditions at low cutoff rigidity sites at higher elevations. Over-water CRNS observations offer a means to correct CRNS observations with the advantages of being locally managed, locally applicable, and directly relevant to CRNS energy spectra.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=31447
McJannet, D., Rasche, D., Marano, J., Hawdon, A., Stenson, M., Schrön, M. (2025):
Over-water low-energy neutron observations for intensity corrections across cosmic-ray soil moisture sensor networks
Water Resour. Res. 61 (9), e2024WR039727 10.1029/2024WR039727