Assessing the feasibility of a directional cosmic-ray neutron sensing sensor for estimating soil moisture

IF 1.8 4区 地球科学 Q3 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
T. Francke, M. Heistermann, M. Köhli, Christian Budach, M. Schrön, S. Oswald
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引用次数: 6

Abstract

Abstract. Cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) is a non-invasive tool for measuring hydrogen pools such as soil moisture, snow or vegetation. The intrinsic integration over a radial hectare-scale footprint is a clear advantage for averaging out small-scale heterogeneity, but on the other hand the data may become hard to interpret in complex terrain with patchy land use. This study presents a directional shielding approach to prevent neutrons from certain angles from being counted while counting neutrons entering the detector from other angles and explores its potential to gain a sharper horizontal view on the surrounding soil moisture distribution. Using the Monte Carlo code URANOS (Ultra Rapid Neutron-Only Simulation), we modelled the effect of additional polyethylene shields on the horizontal field of view and assessed its impact on the epithermal count rate, propagated uncertainties and aggregation time. The results demonstrate that directional CRNS measurements are strongly dominated by isotropic neutron transport, which dilutes the signal of the targeted direction especially from the far field. For typical count rates of customary CRNS stations, directional shielding of half-spaces could not lead to acceptable precision at a daily time resolution. However, the mere statistical distinction of two rates should be feasible.
评估定向宇宙线中子传感传感器估算土壤湿度的可行性
摘要宇宙射线中子传感(CRNS)是一种用于测量土壤湿度、雪或植被等氢库的非侵入性工具。辐射状公顷规模足迹的内在整合对于平均小规模异质性来说是一个明显的优势,但另一方面,在土地利用不均匀的复杂地形中,数据可能会变得难以解释。这项研究提出了一种定向屏蔽方法,在对从其他角度进入探测器的中子进行计数的同时,防止从某些角度对中子进行计数,并探索了其对周围土壤水分分布获得更清晰水平视图的潜力。使用蒙特卡罗程序URNOS(仅超快速中子模拟),我们模拟了额外聚乙烯屏蔽对水平视场的影响,并评估了其对超热液计数率、传播不确定性和聚集时间的影响。结果表明,定向CRNS测量强烈受各向同性中子输运的支配,这稀释了目标方向的信号,尤其是来自远场的信号。对于常规CRNS站的典型计数率,半空间的定向屏蔽在日常时间分辨率下无法达到可接受的精度。然而,仅仅在统计上区分两种比率应该是可行的。
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来源期刊
Geoscientific Instrumentation Methods and Data Systems
Geoscientific Instrumentation Methods and Data Systems GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARYMETEOROLOGY-METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
CiteScore
3.70
自引率
0.00%
发文量
23
审稿时长
37 weeks
期刊介绍: Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI) is an open-access interdisciplinary electronic journal for swift publication of original articles and short communications in the area of geoscientific instruments. It covers three main areas: (i) atmospheric and geospace sciences, (ii) earth science, and (iii) ocean science. A unique feature of the journal is the emphasis on synergy between science and technology that facilitates advances in GI. These advances include but are not limited to the following: concepts, design, and description of instrumentation and data systems; retrieval techniques of scientific products from measurements; calibration and data quality assessment; uncertainty in measurements; newly developed and planned research platforms and community instrumentation capabilities; major national and international field campaigns and observational research programs; new observational strategies to address societal needs in areas such as monitoring climate change and preventing natural disasters; networking of instruments for enhancing high temporal and spatial resolution of observations. GI has an innovative two-stage publication process involving the scientific discussion forum Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems Discussions (GID), which has been designed to do the following: foster scientific discussion; maximize the effectiveness and transparency of scientific quality assurance; enable rapid publication; make scientific publications freely accessible.
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