Soil moisture (SM) is a key parameter in surface water and energy cycles, playing a vital role in agriculture, hydrology, and atmospheric science. Remote sensing (RS) has been widely applied in SM retrieval, yet most existing reviews focus on individual data sources or specific methodologies, lacking a systematic pathway from retrieval principles to product applications, which poses a barrier for early-stage researchers. To address this gap, this study provides a comprehensive review of commonly used SM retrieval models based on different RS data sources, including optical, thermal infrared, active microwave, passive microwave, and multi-source approaches. Their underlying principles, assumptions, advantages, and limitations are critically examined. In parallel, key specifications of major satellite-based SM products, such as spatial-temporal resolution, coverage, and data accessibility, are summarized and compared. By integrating methodological explanations with product characterization, this review serves as a practical reference for researchers entering the field, facilitating informed decisions in SM retrieval applications.
Surface soil moisture (SM) and freeze–thaw (FT) state are key components of the terrestrial system and are recognized as Essential Climate Variables due to their influence on hydrological, ecological, and energy exchange processes. While in situ observation networks provide accurate point-based measurements, their spar...
Victoria Halvorson, E. Deeb, C. Wagner et al.· 0 citations
Soil moisture is a critical state variable in land–atmosphere interactions and the hydrological cycle. Owing to its all-weather and all-day observation capability, passive microwave remote sensing has become an important technique for regional soil moisture monitoring. However, most existing passive microwave soil mois...
Xiang-Dong Qin, Zhi-Guo Pang, Jing-Xuan Lu et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
Soil organic carbon is a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle and plays an important role in regulating the climate, enhancing agricultural productivity, and protecting ecosystems. Efficient large-scale monitoring of SOC is therefore of great significance. Compared with traditional chemical analysis, remote se...
Yuezhong Wu· MATEC Web of Conferences· 0 citations
Soil moisture is critical to the ecological stability and hydrological cycle. Optical remote sensing is severely constrained by cloud cover, snow, and frozen soil in alpine regions, hindering long-term soil moisture monitoring. Taking Nagqu region in the Tibetan Plateau as the study area, this paper constructs a pure m...
This study combines a systematic review with a case study to address the following question: can Sentinel-2 data yield accurate Surface Soil Moisture (SSM) estimates? Among the 1158 papers identified through the review, 66 met the eligibility criteria based on the exclusive use of Sentinel-2 data to estimate SSM and on...
R. M. Cavalli, G. Esposito, L. Pisano et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) and its components is crucial for sustainable water management in agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions. This study presents the first direct comparison of ET products from WaPOR version 3.0 Level 3 (WaPORv3), which utilizes a thermal-optical fusion approach, and...
O. Belfiore, A. Klaasse, H. Pelgrum et al.· Irrigation science· 0 citations
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