Impact of Rainfall on the Retrieval of Soil Moisture using AMSR-E Data

Rainfall leads to errors and limitations on the soil moisture retrieval using satellite radiometry. To understand the impact of rainfall, we examined the temporal and spatial correlations between rainfall and soil moisture using AMSR-E (advanced microwave scanning radiometer-EOS) data. Scan by scan (swath basis) analyses were conducted to find the short time scale relationship between the two physical parameters. The retention of soil moisture after rainfall in different climatic regimes (e.g. humid and arid regions) was also examined.