Soil Climate Analysis Network Expanded in Utah

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Mike Domeier, Utah State Soil Scientist,  (801) 524-4574

The national Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) saw a major expansion in May of 2007 with the installation of nine sites in Utah that will assist farmers and ranchers with land management decisions. In September another seven sites will be added. The sixteen sites were funded by a Utah Conservation Initiative sponsored by Utah Senator Robert Bennett.

Vic Parslow, a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Utah, utilized GIS to identify potential SCAN sites that would complement existing climate data, were near irrigated agricultural areas, and represented benchmark soils. Then working with the local NRCS district conservationists, cooperators were contacted and agreements signed allowing the installation of the SCAN towers on their property. The location of the SCAN sites in Utah can be viewed on the national SCAN Web page at http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan/.

The installation was achieved with the coordinated efforts of the National Soil Survey Center, the National Water and Climate Center, the Utah NRCS Snow Survey staff, and the Utah NRCS Soil Survey staff. Debra Harms along with local staff described the soils at each site and collected samples for full laboratory characterization. The National Water and Climate Center Staff led by Garry Schaefer and the Utah Snow Survey Staff installed the towers, sensors, and electronics at each of the sites.

SCAN focuses on the collection of soil moisture and temperature data of the agricultural areas of the United States and Puerto Rico. Soil moisture and temperature data are collected at 2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 inches as well as air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation. This allows users to study the impact of weather on the soil moisture and temperature for an area. This information can be used to monitor drought development, monitor crop productivity relative to soil moisture, predict regional shifts in irrigation water requirements and assist ranchers and farmers in crop management decisions.

SCAN uses the same meteor burst communications technology as SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) to collect the remote station data. SNOTEL reflects VHF radio signals off the ever present band of ionized meteorites existing from 50 to 70 miles above the earth. The equipment at the site is battery powered with a solar cell recharge and operates unattended with maintenance needed about once a year. Unlike the SNOTEL sites that are located in high mountain watersheds the SCAN sites are in the lower valley positions associated with dry land operations and irrigated agriculture.

Future plans include working with the Utah Climate Center at Utah State University and the NRCS National Water and Climate Center to develop data and map products of special interest to Utah’s agriculture industry

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