Modeling the Influence of Biophysical Properties and Surface Topography on the Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture in the Summer: A Case Study of Balikhli-Chay Watershed

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Iran Expert, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Remote Sensing & GIS, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Iran

4 Professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

The use of satellite data for rapid estimation of soil moisture (SM) and determination of environmental factors affecting it has been developed in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biophysical and topographic characteristics on spatial distribution of SM in the summer. For this purpose, SM was measured at 148 points in Balikhli-Chay watershed in Ardabil province and triangular method based on ASTER digital elevation model, land cover map and climatic data was applied for SM modeling. Surface biophysical properties including wetness, greenness, brightness, and land surface temperature and topographic variables (solar local incidence angle, elevation, slope, and aspect) were calculated. Model error in different months was determined using error statistics. According to the results, the average SM content in the region in July, August and September were 4.67, 6.22 and 4.66%, respectively. The lowest coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) of estimated and measured SM were related to September (0.78 and 1.44, respectively). The strongest linear relationship between SM and biophysical variables (topography) was related to July (with R2 and RMSE equal to 0.53 and 0.29, respectively). SM decreased with increasing land surface temperature and brightness, however increasing greenness, wetness, elevation and solar local incidence angle increased SM content. This study showed that the triangular model can be used to investigate the spatial distribution of SM using biophysical and surface topographic properties. Using the results of the present study can be very useful in improving the accuracy of SM modeling for various applications such as irrigation management, run-off prediction and precision agriculture.

Keywords

References

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Iranian journal of Ecohydrology
Volume 7, Issue 3
October 2020
Pages 563-581

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 May 2019
  • Revise Date: 12 May 2020
  • Accept Date: 12 May 2020
  • First Publish Date: 22 September 2020
  • Publish Date: 22 September 2020

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