Horizontal and Vertical Spatial Variability of Soil Temperature Measurements

Understanding the horizontal and vertical spatial variability of soil temperature measurements allows for a better understanding of individual observations. Two datasets of soil temperature observations were collected at Norman, OK, USA. The first dataset comprises 15 minute resolution soil temperature observations from 8 September 2011 to 19 November 2013 in seven plots across a 10 meter transect. In each plot, sensors were located at depths of 5, 10, and 30, cm. The analysis of this dataset describes the spatial, horizontal variability of soil temperature observations possible from measurements at a site location. The second dataset comprised of15 minute resolution soil temperature observations from 20 November 2013 to 1 December 2015 in a single plot. Soil temperature sensors were placed every 2 cm from the surface down to 40 cm deep to study the vertical variability of soil temperature measurements. The results of this study give insight into the impacts of deposition and erosion of soil over soil temperature measurement locations.