A ground network for SAR-derived soil moisture product calibration, validation and exploitation in Southern Italy

A ground network of 12 stations continuously monitoring soil moisture and temperature at various depths has been recently set up over an experimental site of 4km
²
in the Capitanata plain (Southern Italy). The calibration of the instrumentation is in progress. The long-term high resolution ground observations will be well-suited for SAR-derived soil moisture product validation. Moreover, the ground network will be also associated with hydrologic and agricultural model activities, with the aim of combining land process models with Earth Observation for improving land applications, such as flood/drought and crop yield monitoring and forecast. Indeed, the Capitanata plain is a crucial area in the Mediterranean basin for studying the impact of climate changes and anthropogenic pressure on water availability/demand and wheat production.