New techniques for measuring soil moisture and snow in fire prone terrain

Our main objective is to create hardware and services that will support fire prediction by providing improved capabilities to monitor drought, and by generating better land surface data to feed regional weather models. A second objective is to enable new research into the causesand consequences of wildfire, including studies of post?fire impacts on the hydrology, ecology and geomorphology of the burned landscape. We will do this by developing and commercializing a non?invasive, non?contact soil moisture monitoring system for forestryapplications. The system is well suited for deployment in rough terrain, is low maintenance, and has numerous potential applications in fire prediction, mitigation of post?fire effects, and forestry research in general. This technology, called a cosmic?ray soil moisture probe, utilizes measurements of ambient radiation as a proxy for land surface water (soil moisture or snow). The cosmic?ray probe provides key land surface data over a wide footprint, covering over ~10 ha per fixed station--and can cover even larger areas with a roving unit. Used in conjunction with conventional meteorological data, it can help managers better direct resources to the prevention and mitigation of wildfire.