Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.1111/ejss.70367 |
Licence  |
|
| Title (Primary) | Capturing field-scale soil moisture dynamics in Ireland using cosmic-ray neutron sensing |
| Author | Shishkin, K.; Fenton, O.; Schrön, M.; Finkele, K.; Hochstrasser, T.; Murphy, P. |
| Source Titel | European Journal of Soil Science |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | MET |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Page From | e70367 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Keywords | cosmic rays; soil moisture evaluation; time domain reflectometry; unified transport solution |
| Abstract | Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) enables non-invasive monitoring of field-scale soil moisture, bridging the spatial gap between point-scale sensors such as Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and coarse-resolution satellite products. Its reliability, however, depends on rigorous atmospheric correction, site-specific calibration, and proper scale harmonisation. This study evaluates CRNS performance at four temperate maritime grassland sites in Ireland and conducts a controlled comparison between the classical N0 calibration framework and the physics-based Unified Transport Solution (UTS). Additionally, weighted TDR observations were used as a spatially and vertically harmonised reference. After full correction, CRNS-derived volumetric moisture content (VMC) showed strong agreement with weighted TDR across sites (R2 = 0.78–0.92), capturing seasonal wetting–drying cycles and event-scale infiltration dynamics. Bound hydrogen pools contributed 15%–25% of the total neutron signal, demonstrating their critical role in site-specific calibration. The comparison between N0 and UTS revealed that increased physical complexity does not universally improve performance; For example, UTS provided measurable gains at sites where dynamic pore-water redistribution dominated, whereas at sites with high contributions from relatively static hydrogen pools, improvements were limited. Event-based analysis confirmed that CRNS responses primarily reflected soil layers between 20 and 30 cm depth and integrated transient wetting signals beyond the reach of single-depth sensors. While CRNS exhibited sensitivity to near-surface and interception-related hydrogen during peak wet periods, this behaviour reflects physical signal integration rather than measurement artefacts. Overall, CRNS provides a robust and transferable framework for field-scale soil moisture monitoring in humid temperate grasslands when atmospheric corrections, hydrogen-pool characterisation and footprint-aware validation are consistently applied. |
| Shishkin, K., Fenton, O., Schrön, M., Finkele, K., Hochstrasser, T., Murphy, P. (2026): Capturing field-scale soil moisture dynamics in Ireland using cosmic-ray neutron sensing Eur. J. Soil Sci. 77 (4), e70367 10.1111/ejss.70367 |
|