SGP/SWATS/E3 - Incorrect Soil Moisture Data

The temperature rise readings from all depths on both the east and west profilesare 
incorrect. This also causes the matric potential and water content data to be incorrect.

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

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/E19 - Sensor failure, 85cm E

The temperature rise readings from the 85-cm depth on the east profile are incorrect. This 
also causes the matric potential and water content data for the 85-cm depth to be 
incorrect.

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

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Incorrect Soil Moisture Data

The temperature rise readings from all depths on both the east and west profiles (trise_E, 
trise_W) are incorrect. This also causes the matric potential (soilwatpot_E, 
soilwatpot_W) and water content (watcont_E, watcont_W) data to be incorrect.

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

• AVHRR satellite images for Darwin from BOM (RAW)(raw)

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/E19 - Metadata Errors

The latitude, longitude and altitude of the El Reno (E19) site were
incorrectly entered into the ARM database.  The correct location
of the SWATS.E19 instrument is:
   Lat: 35.557N
   Lon: 98.017W
   Alt:    421m

• alt
• lon
• lat

• alt
• lon
• lat

• alt
• lat
• lon

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Sensor failure, 5cm W

The sensor at the 5-cm depth on the west profile began reporting missing values (-9999) 
with a few intermittent incorrect values after 1830GMT.
(The 5-cm west soil temperatures are good until 2030GMT on 20041203.)

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

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Reprocess: Incorrect calibrations

The calibration coefficients for the 5-cm sensor on the East profile are
incorrect. This is causing incorrect soil water content (watcont_E) to be
reported.

• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_E)

SGP/SWATS/E13 - Reprocess: Changed Depth Dimension

The dimension "depth" in the netCDF files was incorrectly reported as 8, and has been 
changed. Newer files with the correct smaller depth dimension do not have extra placeholder 
values and thus are smaller in size.

• depth

SGP/SWATS/E3 - Sensor failure, 60cm E

The temperature rise readings from the 60-cm depth on the east profile (trise_E) were 
incorrect.  This problem also causes the matric potential (soilwatpot_E) and water content 
(watcont_E) data for the 60-cm depth to be incorrect.  The sensor began to behave 
erratically at 7:00 GMT on 07/10/2008 before an apparent failure at 10:00 GMT on 08/07/2008.  
Maintenance on 10/29 corrected the problem.

Values of tsoil_E at the 60 cm depth are not impacted by this problem.

• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_E)
• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_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/E19 - Sensor failure, 60cm E

The 60cm East profile sensor began reporting temperature rise values near 0 C. This 
problem continued until the old profile of sensors was disconnected and the new set of sensors 
was connected. The soil temperature measure was not impacted by this problem.

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

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Sensor failure, 85cm W

The 85 cm West sensor (based on location in the multiplexer) at this facility appears to 
have failed.  After initially demonstrating problems in mid-2006, all variables from this 
sensor began to report as -9999 on and after 7:00 GMT on 08/04/06.  

Note, although this sensor is listed as 85 cm W in the data files due to its location in 
the multiplexer, it is actually the 85 cm E sensor in the ground.  

Instrument removed from service 20091204.

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

SGP/SWATS/E15 - Incorrect soil moisture

At 20:00 GMT on 05/07/08, temperature rise data from ALL sensors on both profiles began 
reporting values of temperature change near 0 C. These incorrect values of temperature rise 
result in incorrect soil moisture data for all sensors. 

Soil temperature data are unaffected.

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

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Incorrect soil temperature measurements

All of the tsoil measurements at this EF appear noisy and erratic at times, impacting all 
sensors and both profiles.

• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)
• Soil Temperature, West Profile(tsoil_W)

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Sensor failure, 125 W

Temperature rise values form the 125 cm West profile sensor began reporting values near 0 
C. This problem continued until the old profile of sensors was disconnected and the new 
set of sensors was connected. The soil temperature measure was not impacted by this problem.

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

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Failed sensor, 35cm E

Temperature rise and soil temperature from the 35cm East profile sensor began to report as 
-9999.  This problem continued until the old profile of sensors was disconnected and the 
new set of sensors was connected.

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

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Sensor failure, 15cm W

Temperature rise and soil temperature from the 15cm West profile sensor began to report as 
-9999.  This problem continued until the old profile of sensors was disconnected and the 
new set of sensors was connected.

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

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Sensor failure, 5cm E

After the new refurbishment sensors were hooked up, the 5 cm E sensor began reporting 
values of -9999 for all variables.

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

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Incorrect serial numbers

The wiring at E27 from the Campbell Scientific 229-L sensors is backwards. This issue 
impacts the following variables but does not impact data quality: serial_numbers_W, 
serial_numbers_E.

All serial numbers stored in the serial_numbers_W variable apply to data stored in the 
trise_E and tsoil_E variables, and vice versa.  Thus, the user should be aware that the 
trise_W, trise_E, tsoil_W, and tsoil_E variables actually contain data from the opposite 
profile.

• serial_numbers_E
• serial_numbers_W

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Reprocess: Miscalibration

The wiring at E27 from the Campbell Scientific 229-L sensors is backwards. Matric 
potential and water content data are incorrect due to incorrect calibrations being applied to 
temperature rise sensor data.

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

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Incorrect soil, 35cm E

The tsoil measurements from the 35 cm E sensor at this site are slightly irregular and too 
noisy at times.

• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)

SGP/SWATS/E27 - Sensor failure, 125cm E

The 125 cm E sensor tsoil measurements were very erratic and much too high, and all trise 
values were reporting as slightly negative or -9999.  The issue started on 06/07 and 
corrected itself by 20:00 GMT the same day, but the problem returned on 06/10.  Connections 
were re-seated on 6/17 to resolve the problem.

• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_E)
• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)
• serial_numbers_W
• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_E)

SGP/SWATS/E3 - Incorrect temperature rise data

The temperature rise readings from all depths on both the east and west profiles were 
incorrect, reading near zero. This also causes the matric potential and water content data to 
be incorrect.

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

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/E19 - Incorrect tsoil, 85cm E and 85cm W

The tsoil measurements from the 85 cm E and 85 cm W sensors at this site are slightly 
irregular and too noisy at times.

• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)
• Soil Temperature, West Profile(tsoil_W)

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Incorrect tsoil, 125cm E

The tsoil measurements from the 125 cm E sensor at this site are slightly irregular and 
too noisy at times.

• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Sensor failure, 60cm W

The West 60 cm sensor began producing missing values at variable times on 5/11/2010, then 
consistently. It appears the sensor failed.  This facility was shutdown 5/24 following a 
tornado event.

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

SGP/SWATS/E13 - Lightning damage

After a lightning strike near the CF, the SWATS trise values were reporting near zero. The 
current channel in the CE8 module failed, so the wire was moved to the next channel and 
trise values returned to normal.

There are no soil moisture data available during this time period.

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

SGP/SWATS/E15 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• serial_numbers_E
• Soil Water Potential, East Profile(soilwatpot_E)
• time_offset
• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_E)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_E)
• Soil Temperature, West Profile(tsoil_W)
• depth
• lat
• base_time
• alt
• tref
• Soil Water Potential, West Profile(soilwatpot_W)
• serial_numbers_W
• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)
• lon
• Volumetric Water Content, West Profile(watcont_W)
• Sensor Temperature Rise, West Profile(trise_W)

SGP/SWATS/E19 - Noisy tsoil_E 60cm

The East 60 cm tsoil was very noisy during this period

• Soil Temperature, East Profile(tsoil_E)

SGP/SWATS/E15 - Noisy Sensor

The trise variable for the East 25cm sensor has been acting very sporadically since the 
date noted. The values have been spiking upward (dry) especially during rain events. Please 
check the wiring for this sensor. 
After re-seating the wires the values turned back to normal, less noisy with no spikes 
during rain events.

• fwi_e
• Soil Water Potential, East Profile(soilwatpot_e)
• trise_ref_e
• Sensor Temperature Rise, East Profile(trise_e)
• Volumetric Water Content, East Profile(watcont_e)

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)