Paper Title: Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Moisture, Its Measurement and Methods for Analysis: A Review

River, Sediment and Hydrological Extremes: Causes, Impacts and Management

Deepak Swami, & Sahil Sharma

The review article here presents a detailed study of the effects of the measurement scale on temporal and spatial soil moisture analysis. The dynamism of soil moisture remains critical in its application in agronomy, climate, environment and hydrology. The variations of soil moisture (spatially and temporally) are captured by various measurement techniques from the point scale to the continental scale. The robust sampling strategies are of great importance as it helps in the identification of the variability and study of the effects of heterogeneities. A comprehensive comparison of the methods for assessing variability in soil moisture for its spatial and temporal stability is carried out. The soil moisture variability methods’ applicability and advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The scale of the study determines the statistical measurement methods to be applied. The factors affecting soil moisture variability are accurately determined using correlation analysis. Ultimately, the feel campaign strategy for soil moisture measurement based on optimal design for the study of spatiotemporal analysis will always be a trade-off between the accuracy and the cost of measurement, considering the scales of the study.