Soil Moisture Seminar Series: USDA Perspectives on Monitoring and Assessing Drought Impacts and Fire Risk

The National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network is hosting a quarterly online seminar series to regularly share innovative soil moisture research activities. This seminar will focus on monitoring and assessing drought impacts and fire risk in forested environments.

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Data coordinated through the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network will provide vital support in monitoring, assessing, and planning for the impacts of drought, particularly for decision-makers in areas currently lacking accessible data. In addition to Congressional mandates to the USDA to incorporate soil moisture information into the production of the United States Drought Monitor, lawmakers have prioritized the need to make Western states more resilient to drought and fires. Additional knowledge of soil moisture conditions under forest canopies will significantly improve the ability to assess these risks, and activities are currently underway to make in-situ soil moisture data accessible to users in all fields. This seminar will detail current activities and future plans being championed within the USDA for improving soil moisture monitoring, with an emphasis on forested areas.

Presenters

• Mark Brusberg (Chief Meteorologist, USDA Office of the Chief Economist)
• Stephanie Connolly (Soil Scientist Field Liaison, USDA Forest Service)