Incorrect measurement uncertainty reported for many soil water content locations
November 1, 2023
An error in many of the sensor calibration files means that the reported measurement uncertainty in the soil water content data product () is lower than the actual measurement uncertainty for many locations. The reported uncertainty corresponds to soil-specific calibrations, but the sensors were using the manufacturer's default calibration, which has a larger uncertainty. The other reported parameters, such as mean soil water content during the averaging interval, are unaffected. The start date varies among sites, but typically affects data since mid-2021 to present, as well as all measurement levels (see table for details). Work has started to correct the calibration files, after which the data will be reprocessed and republished. An update to this issue will be provided within the next 2 months.
Please use the Contact Us form for further inquiries related to this issue; select DP1.00094.001 in the Data Product dropdown list and include the term "INC0069873".
