A Russian radar-based soil surface sensor

[Bruce Metelerkamp]

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Please take a look at this website and let me know what you think!

http://www.tsniires.ru/english/product_4_1.htm


An extract from the page:
"
Now a dummy moisture gauge based upon the frequency stepped change radar
has been developed in the Remote Sensing Laboratory of TsNIIRES JSC. The
moisture gauge transmitter operates over the following frequencies: 200,
400, 600, 800, and 1000 MHz. Measurements are taken from the soil surface
with the aid of low-penetration (7.5 cm) rod antennas. The use of antennae
of such a type contributes to reducing the influence of the surface
irregularities and of industrial noise on the measurement process, and to
reducing the level of the forward signal from the transmitting antenna to
the receiving one. The signal undergoes coherent processing in the
receiver. The dummy moisture gauge mass is 3.5 kg. 

The moisture profile is constructed on the basis of phase-frequency and
amplitude-frequency characteristics proceeding from model assumptions. The
signals are processed with the aid of microprocessing technique. To improve
the accuracy of measurements, an independent method, e.g., using dc
conductance as a background, may be used for determining the soil surface
layer moisture 

Two prototypes of the moisture gauge have been manufactured, and field
tests have been initiated.
ends
"
Bruce

--
Bruce Metelerkamp

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