Heated fiber optics to monitor soil moisture under successive saturation-drying cycles

What is it about?

We use actively heated fiber optic (AHFO) coupled with distributed temperature sensing (DTS) for measuring soil volumetric water content. This technique helps in investigating the characterization of soil thermal behavior under successive saturation-drying cycles.

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Photo by MountainAsh on Unsplash

Photo by MountainAsh on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Soil water storage is a key variable in Earth's ecology. Its characterization is essential for understanding soil-atmosphere-vegetation exchanges, assessing ecosystem productivity globally, and optimizing water use in agriculture. Our findings from a horizontal experimental soil profile provide insights into enhancing the applicability of actively heated fiber optic (AHFO) coupled with the distributed temperature sensing (DTS) approach under field conditions, particularly following irrigation schedules and natural rainfall events.

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