Speaker
Description
Cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) is an accurate and non-invasive method that measures soil moisture estimates. This allows for continuous monitoring of soil moisture estimations at large-scale measurements, which is important for optimising irrigation and conserving water resources in the agricultural sector. It is based on the detection of fast (epithermal) neutrons, which are produced from high-energy cosmic-ray particles. Cosmic-ray particles are particles that originate from the Sun and distant galaxies that enter the atmosphere of Earth via the heliosphere, creating a cascade of secondary cosmic ray. These secondary cosmic-rays contain epithermal neutrons that interact inversely with hydrogen atoms in soil, thus providing a non-invasive method for monitoring moisture levels.
This work converts neutron flux to volumetric water content using the standard N$_0$ calibration method, which aids in evaluating the role of soil moisture on CRNS measurements. In particular, this study focuses on the influence of atmospheric dynamics, including evapotransoration, rainfall events, and humidity levels which are important in the agricultural industry during a growth season. Analysing the magnitude and variability of atmospheric dynamics are required for accurate soil moisture monitoring.
Within this study the detailed process of the CRNS calibration which relates the measured neutron intensity to volumetric soil content in a crop season, to establish if the CRNS measurements could detect atmospheric dynamics.
The results assess the sensitivity of CRNS measurements compared to atmospheric conditions and demonstrate the necessity of real-time atmospheric corrections for reliable soil moisture monitoring.
These findings establish methods to account for atmospheric dynamics in CRNS applications and provide protocols for optimizing sensor deployment in agricultural sectors.
| Apply for student award at which level: | PhD |
|---|---|
| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |