INFORMATION LEVEL 2 : Soil Moisture Maps and Australian Rainfall https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30599
Water is one of the most important components of soil, but the volume of water contained within a given volume of soil—or soil moisture—can fluctuate annually, seasonally, daily, and even hourly, due to changes in water availability from precipitation, irrigation, and evaporation from the soil and plants. Data from SMAP allow scientists to better understand the processes that link the Earth’s water, energy, and carbon cycles, as well as enhance the predictive skills of weather and climate models. In addition, scientists can use these data to develop improved flood prediction and drought monitoring capabilities. Societal benefits include improved water-resource management, agricultural productivity, and wildfire and landslide predictions. Click the link for more information!