Investigating the Potential of Electromagnetic Induction for Mapping Multi-Depth Soil Moisture Variations in Southern Manitoba

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the potential of electromagnetic induction as a valid soil moisture monitoring technique in a Canadian prairie watershed. Soil moisture (SM) information is important for many aspects of hydrology; however, current methods for collecting multi-depth SM data can be costly and non-representative, and understanding the spatial and temporal variability of SM remains challenging (Western et al., 1998; Reedy and Scanlon, 2003; Teuling and Troch, 2005; Vereecken et al., 2008; Grote et al., 2010). Alternatively, previous research has suggested that the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) of a soil is often highly correlated to its soil water content and can be measured non-invasively through the use of electromagnetic induction meters (McNeill, 1980b; Reedy and Scanlon, 2003; Tromp-van Meerveld and McDonnell, 2009; Zhu et al., 2010).Research Objectives:i. Investigate the spatial and temporal variability of SM and ECaii. Examine the relationship between SM and ECa on a depth-average and depth-specific basis, over a range of wetness conditionsStudies encompassing these aspects, especially the depth-specific variability of SM and ECa, have not been attempted for a Canadian Prairie watershed.