Articles | Volume 18, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-1061-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-1061-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Fusing ERA5-Land and SMAP L4 for an improved global soil moisture product (1950–2025)
Wenhong Wang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Shiao Feng
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Zhongwang Wei
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Jianzhi Dong
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Lutz Weihermüller
Agrosphere Institute IBG-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
Cong-Qiang Liu
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Harry Vereecken
Agrosphere Institute IBG-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
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Cited
11 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Downscaling Analysis of Remote Sensing Data Products Incorporating Physical Mechanisms Across Different Slope Positions in the New South Wales Catchment, Australia Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18081230
- Evaluation of the accuracy and response to recorded irrigation events of remote sensing and reanalysis soil moisture products in a typical irrigation district R. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110822
- Improving surface soil moisture estimates across Canada using reanalysis, in-situ observations, and machine learning N. Kanda & C. Fletcher https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2026.103940
- The influence of spring soil moisture on flood runoff in forest and grassland basins of the Haihe river mountainous region W. Tan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104026
- Blended Soil Moisture Across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Using Triple Collocation Based on Reanalysis Datasets X. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18101196
- Delayed Vegetation Greenness Response to Compound Flash Drought–Heatwave Extremes J. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131468
- Integrating Fourier-derived temporal features from multi-year vegetation and soil moisture time series enhances soil organic matter mapping C. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.118010
- Soil moisture information in Southeast Australia – A review of long-term field measurements toward enhanced monitoring and predictive applications I. Senanayake et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2026.e01132
- Integrated geospatial and hydrological approach for modeling and forecasting to detect crop water stress in Laos K. Phommavong et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2026.2706341
- Seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2026.1880109
- Impact Pathways of Environmental Factors on the Spatiotemporal Variations in Surface Soil Moisture in Tianshan Mountains, China D. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070736
11 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Downscaling Analysis of Remote Sensing Data Products Incorporating Physical Mechanisms Across Different Slope Positions in the New South Wales Catchment, Australia Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18081230
- Evaluation of the accuracy and response to recorded irrigation events of remote sensing and reanalysis soil moisture products in a typical irrigation district R. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110822
- Improving surface soil moisture estimates across Canada using reanalysis, in-situ observations, and machine learning N. Kanda & C. Fletcher https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2026.103940
- The influence of spring soil moisture on flood runoff in forest and grassland basins of the Haihe river mountainous region W. Tan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104026
- Blended Soil Moisture Across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Using Triple Collocation Based on Reanalysis Datasets X. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18101196
- Delayed Vegetation Greenness Response to Compound Flash Drought–Heatwave Extremes J. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131468
- Integrating Fourier-derived temporal features from multi-year vegetation and soil moisture time series enhances soil organic matter mapping C. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.118010
- Soil moisture information in Southeast Australia – A review of long-term field measurements toward enhanced monitoring and predictive applications I. Senanayake et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2026.e01132
- Integrated geospatial and hydrological approach for modeling and forecasting to detect crop water stress in Laos K. Phommavong et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2026.2706341
- Seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2026.1880109
- Impact Pathways of Environmental Factors on the Spatiotemporal Variations in Surface Soil Moisture in Tianshan Mountains, China D. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070736
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 15 Oct 2026
Short summary
Current soil moisture data often suffers from gaps or errors. We combined the long-term coverage of ERA5-Land with the high accuracy of SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) satellites to create a corrected global moisture dataset spanning 1950–2025. Validated against 3.8 million ground measurements, our product reduces errors by ~ 25 % in the modern period (2015–2020) and maintains ~ 20 % improvement historically (1960–2015). This reliable, daily 75-year record is essential for monitoring long-term climate trends and droughts.
Current soil moisture data often suffers from gaps or errors. We combined the long-term coverage...
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