Dear AllThe long awaited SMOS V650 is now ready for release and thus for you to use!We (ESA and ESLs) have prepared it tested it, run the reprocessing from beginning to now, and the operational processor is no ready to produce it giving you access to the whole data set!The main features of the new versions are described in the release note made available with the new distribution. It capitalises as usual on the progresses made at level 1, but the most salient features are
- the replacement of ECOCLIMAP by IGBP which enables to have i) an up to date land use map and ii) to be aligned with SMAP and Aquarius,
- the use of CdF matching in mixed forest nominal pixels and much more accurate and
- relevant DQX and Chi2
- Finally the way the current files are updated is also improved.
As a consequence the new version is “wetter” at high latitudes and around forested areas (with also higher VODs), more retrievals are successful. In terms of metrics with respect to our usual sparse and dense networks, both correlation coefficients and RMSE are improved but also thereis no bias at all while the SDTE remains the same.
Difference (V650-V620) of averaged soil moisture (4 months per year January; April, July and October) during 7 years.
Difference (V650-V620) of averaged vegetation opacity (4 months per year January; April, July and October) during 7 years.
Data and documentation available at the usual ESA / Array addresses
Note that the SM NRT are being updated. CATDS L3 will also be updated, but after we have corrected an issue with L3 temporal approach algorithm.
Have fun!