The mapping of permafrost (see also Cryosols ) has always been difficult , both intrinsic (field problems) and extrinsically (occupy vast expanses in inhospitable regions manudompoco and accessible). The news that we offer today, and published by the Red CORDIS (EU) reports that the ESA Satellite achieved MOS estimate the depth of permafrost up to 50 cm. deep, and their fluctuations and annual and interannual trends . Although such instrumentation satellite’s main mission is to analyze the soil moisture, can be used in order to map and monitor the depth and ice melting cycle Cryosols (WRB 2006-2007) .

are obtained for images that could go a long As the mapping of these soils and permafrost in general , apart from indirectly inform us about the cyclical source / sink of carbon (CO2 and methane ). As you can see,  from certain points of view , the landscape can also Crucibles regarded as a heartbeat of Gaia-Gea at high latitudes, the fact that  we also show , for example, in the case of Vertisols in other warmer environments

I have been following for some time, given how much the news on the progress of a ESA SMOSsince it was launched into space, because one of its objectives is to estimate soil moisture.Now , as I am not an expert on satellite imagery to predict sideways about its potential in the field of soil science. This is the first news which I find relevant to the community of soil scientists, but due to taxonomic value provides information on remote areas and / or inaccessible harbor frozen ground . We have published numerous post on permafrost , and briefly discussed thetaxonomy of Cryosols . It should now leave you a bit of work to colaboréis you . Do you agree, “about” the limits to which we can estimate the ice sheet and its fluctuations with the diagnostic criteria of the WRB and / or USDA-Soil Taxonomy.? Should we try to improve predictions in depth (if possible) with this methodology, or carrying out some adjustments of the constructs taxonomic question, in order to be able to adequately monitor the current extent and future changes in these edafotaxa? .

This is a glaring case, which in fact are rare, in which a new technology can improve and even challenge whether to change slightly in the soil classifications in order to fit to the data give us new tools . In any case, has carried out a validation, for the moment, which does not mean that final decisions be taken until the soil scientists to perform their calibrations in different parts of the world.

No doubt that when ESA SMOS monitor soil moisture over a longer series of years, one would think of estimating and monitoring of soil moisture regime through such instruments. This is a key diagnostic variable in the USDA Soil Taxonomy. However , depth not know until today or within some time, such apparatus can measure the water content in the soil . Perhaps then this variable does not reach the diagnostic value, or new instruments and investigations cast doubt on the data currently provided by the satellite actually quite common in technological applications in many fields of knowledge.

In any case, I have the impression that this is good news, if it confirms the goodness of this press release, since (….)

SMOS measures the advance of winter with frozen ground records

The satellite of the ESA SMOS is designed to observe soil moisture and ocean salinity. But this innovative mission is providing further information on methane and carbon cycles on Earth, with its maps of the soil as it freezes and melts .

SOURCE | European Space Agency (ESA)

The launch of the mission SMOS (English acronym for Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) in November 2009 introduced in the observation of the Earth a new remote sensing technique .

SMOS captures the ‘brightness temperature’, ie : the images obtained are consistent with themicrowave radiation emitted by the earth’s surface, which may be related to soil moisture andocean salinity.

Changes in these two variables are the result of continuous exchange of water between oceans, atmosphere and earth: the water cycle on Earth .

SMOS provides essential information for understanding the water cycle and weather and climate system. A group of scientists from the Finnish Meteorological Institute h now developed an addition, a method that uses these data to detect and map frozen ground .

SMOS information can be inferred not only the extension of frozen ground, but also the depth of the ice .

In the animation shown above compares data from 26 November 2010 to November 26, 2011.Last year large areas of northern Finland were covered by an ice layer 30 centimeters deep. This year, however, the fall has been much smoother, and by November 26 had been frozen only a small area.

As this map shows, this year can be monitored very closely the changes as winter progresses.

The left image shows the state of the ground on November 26, and below shows the gap to four days later.

As the ground freezes is storing increasing amounts of carbon and methane, which again are released into the atmosphere with the spring thaw . Like the heart beat again I)

There is great concern about the possibility of permanent permafrost thaw due to rising global temperatures, which would release into the atmosphere huge amounts of carbon and mess o-and thus increase the atmospheric concentration of these greenhouse gases.

“ The state of the soil has always been particularly important in northern latitudes , “says Kimmo Rautiainen, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (IMF).

“ Detecting frozen ground from space, and depth of the permafrost, has been an old unsolved scientific problem .

“But now we are confident that the new