SGP/SWATS/E8 - Sensor failure, 15cm W

The temperature rise readings from the 15-cm depth on the west profile are incorrect. This 
also causes the matric potential and water content data to be incorrect.

Instrument removed from service 20091110.

• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, West Profile(trise_W)
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)

SGP/SWATS/E8 - Sensor failure, 15cm E

The temperature rise readings from the 15-cm depth on the east profile are incorrect. This 
also causes the matric potential and water content data to be incorrect.

• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_E)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_E)
• Soil Water Potential, East Profile(soilwatpot_E)

SGP/SWATS/E8 - Sensor failure, 35cm W

The sensor installed at 35 cm at the west profile has produced questionable data ince it 
was installed back in 1996.  Once the sensor began to stabilize at 17:00 GMT on 07/20/99, 
it has produced questionable or incorrect values of temperature rise.  From 07/20/99 to 
the present date, 35cm W temperature rise values have stayed within a range of 
approximately 0.8-2.0 C, while the sensor from the 35cm E profile has produced an approximate range 
of 1.5-4.0 C.

In addition, the calibration for this sensor is so bad it is not possible to correct it 
using field data.  The range of temperature rise values produced by this sensor is too 
limited to reliably re-calibrate the instrument.  Under the old ARM calibration for SWATS, 
the calibrated reference temperature change should fall within a range of 1.45-4.00 C (the 
new range is 1.38-3.96 C).  For this sensor, the reference temperature change has fallen 
within an approximate range of 0.2-1.7 C and the calibration is actually adjusting the 
trise measurements in the wrong direction.  

Therefore, all temperature rise, matric potential and water content data 
are all highly suspect from the 35cm W sensor.

The soil temperature data appear to be OK.

Instrument removed from service 20091110.

• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, West Profile(trise_W)
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)

SGP/SWATS/E8 - Sensor failure, 60cm W

At 2:00 GMT on 07/30 all measurements from the 60 cm W sensor began reporting as -9999. 
The sensor has failed. 

This EF site is scheduled to be decommissioned in the near future.

Instrument removed from service 20091110.

• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, West Profile(trise_W)
• Soil Temperature, West Profile(tsoil_W)
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)

SGP/SWATS/E8 - Sensor failure, 15cm W

The 15cm West profile sensor was not producing reasonable values of matric potential or 
water content.  Site ops found and tighten a loose wire.

• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)

SGP/SWATS/E8 - Incorrect soil moisture

Sensors in both profiles and at all depths were not being heated properly (temperature 
rise is too small). As a result, all matric potential and water content data are invalid 
also.

• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_E)
• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, West Profile(trise_W)
• Soil Water Potential, East Profile(soilwatpot_E)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_E)
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)