To The Field! Proximal Sensing For Soil Physics Applications.

Pedology has so much knowledge to contribute to problems being addressed in the disciplines of soil physics, hydrology, and ecosystem sciences.  Pedometrics has addressed the need for pedology knowledge by quantifying soil properties using proximal sensing and interpolating these properties across the landscape.  In reviewing progress in pedology, pedometrics, and soil physics over the last 10 years or so, and linking them with my experience, many opportunities emerge for pedology in the next decade.   Two opportunities are of principal importance to improving biophysical modeling at the landscape and global scale.  One opportunity is to better quantify soil properties using multi-senor platforms and investigating new technologies for field application—or improved proximal sensing.   Another is better communication with physicists and hydrologist about the value of including and the value of quantifying soil structure in hydrology models.   This talk will cover specific examples about the importance of making field observations and using technology in the field rather than qualitative field description followed by subsequent   lab analysis. For example, measuring soil structure in the field and using it to model water transport and using VisNIR spectroscopy in the field while relying on laboratory-based spectral libraries. Though there is still an important component of laboratory-based measurement in the future of Pedology, significant development and applications to biophysical modeling can be made by quantifying soil properties in situ because of the importance of soil spatial variability in modeling mass transport within and across landscapes.