ecCodes definition

Name:Soil moisture top 100 cmAbbreviation:sm100Unit:kg m-3paramId:228087

S2S details

DefinitionThe volumetric soil moisture on the top 100cm of the soil layer.
ValidityDaily averaged
Comment

Computed from instantaneous values at 00, 06, 12 and 18Z - Sea points should be set as missing values

To interpret soil moisture and to compare different models the Soil Wetness Index (SWI) is used:

SWI (soil_moisture - wilting_point) / (field_capacity - wilting_point).

Field capacity corresponds to the maximum value that the model can sustain without precipitation for more than a few hours. The vegetated fraction of the soil evaporates at the maximum rate for soil moisture larger than field capacity and stops evaporating below the permanent wilting point, with a continuous variation between the two extremes.
All Partners are asked to provide the wilting point and the field capacity for each grid point.

WMO GRIB2 definition

Parameter
Discipline2 Land surface products 
Parameter Category0 Vegetation/biomass
Parameter Number22 Soil Moisture
Level
Type of first fixed surface106Depth below land surface m
Scale factor of first fixed surface0
Scaled value of first fixed surface00
Type of second fixed surface106
Depth below land surface m
Scale factor of second fixed surface1

Scaled value of second fixed surface10
1 metre

1 Comment

  1. Use paramId=228037