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spatial_nsm: Spatial estimates of soil-climate properties using a modified Newhall simulation model

October 28, 2022
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We developed a software framework to estimate high-resolution spatiotemporal soil moisture (monthly, annual, and seasonal) and temperature-moisture regimes. Our approach builds on the Newhall simulation model, allowing for the substitution of data and parameters, such as climate, snowmelt, soil properties, alternative potential evapotranspiration equations, and air-soil temperature offsets. The Newhall simulation model is an parsimonious accounting system of water movement in a vertical soil profile and characterizes the soil moisture and soil temperature conditions using monthly precipitation (total), monthly air temperature (mean), and available water capacity (AWC; characteristic of soil properties defining potential to retain water) as data inputs. We use open-source software (spatial_nsm) relying on Python that was translated from jNSM software (v. 1.6.1; U.S. Department of Agriculture)-a java implementation of the NSM relies on aspatial climate stations.

Citation Information

Publication Year 2022
Title spatial_nsm: Spatial estimates of soil-climate properties using a modified Newhall simulation model
DOI 10.5066/P97XRNTX
Authors Michael O'Donnell, Daniel Manier
Product Type Software Release
Record Source USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog
USGS Organization Fort Collins Science Center

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Soil temperature and moisture (soil-climate) affect plant growth and microbial metabolism, providing a mechanistic link between climate and growing conditions. However, spatially explicit soil-climate estimates that can inform management and research are lacking. We developed a framework to estimate spatiotemporal-varying soil moisture (monthly, annual, and seasonal) and temperature-moisture regim
Authors
Michael O'Donnell, Daniel Manier
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Michael O'Donnell

Biologist
Fort Collins Science Center
Phone
970-226-9407

Daniel Manier, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

Ecologist
Fort Collins Science Center

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