SMAP’s first year of observational data has now been analyzed and is providing some significant surprises that will help in the modeling of climate, forecasting of weather, and monitoring of agriculture around the world.
These new results are reported in the journal Nature Geosciences, in a paper by SMAP Science Team leader Dara Entekhabi, recent MIT graduate Kaighin McColl PhD ’16, and four others.
The SMAP observations are providing an unprecedented level of detailed, worldwide information on the amount of water in those top 2 inches (5 centimeters) of soil, collected globally every two to three days.
The oceans, containing 97 percent of Earth’s water, provide a major role in storing and releasing heat, but over land that role is provided by the moisture in the topmost layer of the soil, albeit through different mechanisms.
The difference between the two weights gives a precise measure of the soil’s moisture content in that volume, which can be compared with the satellite’s moisture measurement.
"Study tracks ‘memory’ of soil moisture: First year of data from SMAP satellite provides new insights for weather, agriculture, and climate."
ScienceDaily, 16 January 2017.
Study tracks ‘memory’ of soil moisture: First year of data from SMAP satellite provides new insights for weather, agriculture, and climate.
Retrieved June 9, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170116121807.htm Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"Study tracks ‘memory’ of soil moisture: First year of data from SMAP satellite provides new insights for weather, agriculture, and climate."

by Ray Grabanski Special to the Farm Forum 06/13/17 — The drought that started in the northwest Corn Belt and HRS wheat country expanded last week, and the dry and warm conditions in the Corn Belt rapidly depleted soil moisture levels and started to hurt crop condition ratings, too.
The 8-14 day forecast today, 6/13 has moved some rainfall out of the central and southern Midwest in this morning’s weather forecast (it seems to shift a bit back and forth every day), with the western Corn Belt forecast to remain relatively dry as well.
Corn conditions also declined 1% to 67% G/E, vs. 75% last year.
But the crop conditions are only 66% rated G/E, down from 74% last year.
In other crops, cotton is 92% planted, 2% ahead of average while crop ratings rose 5% to 66% G/E, well ahead of last year’s 53% ratings.
Barley conditions actually rose 3% to 72% rated G/E, down from 78% last year but this seems at odds with the 10% decline in HRS wheat ratings.
Probably one of the most bullish signs for this summer is the fact that a rapid decline in soil moisture conditions occurred nationally last week, with topsoil moisture rated adequate/surplus down a huge 11% from last week to only 69% rated adequate/surplus, well below 78% a year ago.
Subsoil also declined significantly, down 7% to 78% rated adequate/surplus, now below last year’s 82% ratings.
Will the weather turn from the current warm/dry pattern to one with more normal precip and temperatures as forecast today?
Or will the current pattern which is depleting soil moisture and rapidly declining some crop ratings continue?

The drought in the Dakotas may expand in the weeks ahead, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Outlook.
“Currently, the primary area of concern is in the Dakotas,” the outlook says.
Some indicators point toward cooler and possibly wetter weather in the region for the last half of the month, but at this point it seems only a possibility; however, it does reduce our forecast confidence somewhat.” DROUGHT OUTLOOK: The drought is likely to expand in June, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Outlook.
North Dakota hotline activated North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring recently announced a new hotline available for ranchers affected by the drought.
They will then be entered into the Drought Hotline database to be matched up with other individuals.
Goehring said North Dakota Department of Agriculture employees will answer calls to the hotline weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers can also leave a message on evenings and weekends.
Lack of measurable rain combined with higher temperatures and wind have caused drought conditions across the state in varying degrees.
Pasture and range conditions were rated 70% fair to very poor, which could cut forage production dramatically for livestock producers even if rains were to come in late June.
“We are requesting that the Farm Service Agency allow emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Progam land,” Goehring said.
“Once a disaster declaration is attained, farmers and ranchers should check with their local FSA office to see if they qualify for other drought relief programs that may be available to help.” Related

“It’s likely we will go from May 29 through June 13 with only 0.02 inches rain,” KCRG-TV9 meteorologist Justin Gehrts wrote Thursday in The Gazette.
Only once since 1892 has the Cedar Rapids metro area recorded a drier early June, he said.
Following a windy weekend with hot temperatures, the lack of June rain will become more obvious this week.
Farmers, those most susceptible to the vagaries of weather, will perceive in it the potential for reduced yields.
In the 2012 drought, still fresh in most Iowans’ memories, the state’s average corn and soybean yields fell, respectively, to 137 bushels and 44.5 bushels per acre — a reduction of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, from the average yields of the preceding four years.
Rising grain prices during the growing season, combined with federal crop insurance, cushioned the blow for most grain farmers, while livestock producers, for whom federal insurance was not available, suffered with hay and pasture shortages and increased costs for their principal input.
As the drought wore on, we all became increasingly irritable, waiting for relief from torrid July heat and a refreshing of the parched landscape.
While I would never wish for a drought, I prefer my summer weather a little on the dry side.
Farmers will recall 2016, with abundant rains falling before anyone noticed they were needed, as a year of record corn and soybean crops — a year of perfect weather, many of them would say.
It’s not there yet, as I write this, but it is falling steadily toward that level and will likely reach it this week.

Things to consider in drought.
The current June 6 U.S. Drought Monitor shows that more than three-fourths of South Dakota is under abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.
Things to consider during drought conditions: Weeds under drought conditions tend to show more tolerance to applied herbicides that those growing under optimal conditions because plants may develop a thicker wax layer on the leaf surface to conserve moisture which can obstruct the herbicide absorption.
Systemic herbicides such as Roundup and SU herbicides are known to have reduced effects during hot and dry conditions.
Weather factors can influence insect populations quite dramatically, both in favor of and against the growing crops.
One of the groups of insects to lookout for during hot and dry conditions are grasshoppers.
Both grass mite and twospotted spider mite populations can increase in response to drought conditions.
Under dry conditions, plants may show moderate to severe nutrient deficiency symptoms even when the soil contains adequate amount of nutrients needed for normal growth and development.
This will cause plants to show N-deficiency symptoms.
As grass forages are more likely to be fertilized with nitrogen, it is recommended to test for nitrates when these crops are grown under drought conditions.

State sees drought and flooding all in one week.
Very little widespread rain has fallen across the Sunshine State this year, which has led to a worsening drought with every passing week.
RELATED: Storm Shield app provides life-saving weather alerts A stationary front parked itself over Florida, bringing a chance for rain and thunderstorms to the entire state nearly every day this week.
Despite the dry conditions, all this rain had nowhere to go, and it resulted in widespread flooding for many parts of the state.
Follow Storm Shield Meteorologist Jason Meyers via the Storm Shield app on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Download the Storm Shield Weather Radio App for your iPhone or Android device and get severe weather alerts wherever you are.
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The excess rainfall helped alleviate abnormally dry and drought conditions in parts of eastern Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
This week’s map reflects a one-category improvement in conditions in the drought/abnormally dry areas of South Carolina.
Recent rains also resulted in improvements to the drought/abnormally dry areas in northern and central Georgia as streamflow and soil moisture conditions improved.
In the southern part of the state, moderate (D1) and severe drought (D2) were reduced to areas that continue to show lingering dryness at 60- to 90-day timescales.
Extreme drought (D3) was removed and some areas near the coasts saw two-category improvements as recent rains totaled up to 7 inches.
Meanwhile, above-average rainfall in the eastern part of the state resulted in a reduction in the abnormally dry (D0) area.
Abnormally dry (D0) areas crept northward into parts of southern Oklahoma in response to precipitation deficits and corresponding dry soils and vegetation.
Pasture and crop conditions further deteriorated, resulting in the westward expansion of abnormal dryness (D0) and the introduction of moderate drought (D1) in the eastern part of the state.
Looking Ahead The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center forecast calls for continued rain June 7-14 across the South and eastern portions of the United States.
Author(s): Deborah Bathke, National Drought Mitigation Center Dryness Categories D0 … Abnormally Dry … used for areas showing dryness but not yet in drought, or for areas recovering from drought.

Cape Town storm: Eight killed as drought ends.
Eight people have been killed when a storm lashed the South African city of Cape Town following months of drought.
Thousands of people have been left homeless.
The storm comes two weeks after the region declared a drought disaster.
BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery warns that Wednesday could bring in excess of 50mm of rain to some western areas of South Africa, accompanied by winds of 60-90km/h.
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Thursday should see conditions easing but a passing cold front will introduce much cooler weather in all areas.
He also warns that the strong winds could lead to wildfires because the countryside is so dry.
In May, the Western Cape province declared a drought disaster after two reservoirs had completely dried up.
It was said to have been the region’s worst drought in more than a century.

City water usage reaching highs during drought.
Superintendent Duane Friesz said the facility has reached pumping levels it doesn’t normally see until July or August, at times reaching 7.5 million gallons of its 12 million-gallon capacity.
The heaviest usage is in the morning and evenings.
Citywide and in Lincoln, customers have been asked to reduce outdoor water usage, including sprinkler systems, and lawn watering due to the dry weather conditions.
Even numbered houses and businesses are asked to only water lawns on Monday and Thursday.
Michelle Klose, Bismarck’s director of utility operations, said the water tower is the only water source for that area of town, while other locations have multiple sources.
Coupled with a high growth rate, going from 4,100 customers in May 2015 to 4,500 today, not including South Central Regional Water customers, the water tower has not been able to keep up with demand in the current drought conditions.
Klose said her department will be taking a look at its operations and infrastructure to determine what improvements need to be made in order to prevent these northwest area water shortages in future hot weather situations.
With the drought, average water use has increased from 300 gallons per house per day in May 2015 to 450 gallons per house per day throughout May.
Bismarck water customers can track their water usage online by setting up an account at www.bismarcknd.gov/wateranalytics.

Southwest Florida has undoubtedly turned the corner on dry season. And though rain amounts have varied widely over the past three days, there is much more to come for the state’s west coast this week. As rain opportunities increase and rain gauges get dusted off after our arid spring, the forecast looks promising for the region to shake off the drought status we’ve been in for months. WHAT’S HAPPENING? The transition from dry season to rainy season is a process. What’s helping the transition this year though is a large tropical air mass slowly moving from the Gulf toward Florida. This slice of the tropics is water-logged, meaning it contains a lot of what’s known as precipitable water. Precipitable water, or PWAT for short, is a meteorological term identifying air masses able to generate a lot of rain. The higher the PWAT, the more rain one can theoretically squeeze out of the atmosphere. Right now for example, the PWAT value in southern California where the air is dry is about .13. This means if you were to condense all of the water vapor in a column of the air in California, you’d get .13″ of rain in the window of time you’re looking at. Today in Southwest Florida, our PWAT values are around 2.3. And so, if we were able to rain out all of the available water vapor, 2.3″ of rain would fall. As we work through the forecast tonight, on Tuesday, and through Wednesday, PWAT values for South Florida vary from 2 to…