Towards the optimization of a scintillator-based neutron detector for large non-invasive soil moisture estimation

Stevanato, L.; Polo, Matteo; Lunardon, M.; Marinello, Francesco; Moretto, S.; Baroni, Gabriele

doi:10.1109/metroagrifor50201.2020.9277582

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…An automatic calibration algorithm to stabilize the high voltage power supply and the gain of the photomultipliers with respect to environmental temperature variations is provided in real‐time by the control board. This allows to operate the system in a wide temperature range (−25° /+ 55°; Stevanato et al., 2020). The possibility to measure locally muons to make a real‐time estimation of the soil moisture with Cosmic Rays Technique is covered by a FINAPP patent (Stevanato et al., 2019).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Alternative Incoming Correction for Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Sensing Observations Using Local Muon Measurement

Stevanato

Baroni

Oswald

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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Measuring the variability of incoming neutrons locally would be usefull for the cosmic‐ray neutron sensing (CRNS) method. As the measurement of high energy neutrons is not so easy, alternative particles can be considered for such purpose. Among them, muons are particles created from the same cascade of primary cosmic‐ray fluxes that generate neutrons at the ground. In addition, they can be easily detected by small and relatively inexpensive detectors. For these reasons they could provide a suitable local alternative to incoming corrections based on remote neutron monitor data. The reported measurements demonstrated that muon detection system can detect incoming cosmic‐ray variations locally. Furthermore the precision of this measurement technique is considered adequate for many CRNS applications.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Alternative Incoming Correction for Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Sensing Observations Using Local Muon Measurement

Stevanato

Baroni

Oswald

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Recently, a group of researchers in Europe designed a CRNS called Finapp, which utilizes inorganic and plastic scintillators coupled with a photomultiplier for neutron detection. Field testing in Italy and Germany found Finapp to have good agreement with 3 He-based CRNSs [12,13]. Another emerging neutron detection technology produced by a group of researchers in Germany and tested for use in CRNSs are boron-lined proportional counters, which have the same measurement principals as commercially available 3 He and BF 3 proportional counters [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor Accurately Captures Field-Scale Soil Moisture Trends under Heterogeneous Soil Textures

Flynn

Wyatt

McInnes

2021

Water

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Soil moisture is a critical variable influencing plant water uptake, rainfall-runoff partitioning, and near-surface atmospheric conditions. Soil moisture measurements are typically made using either in-situ sensors or by collecting samples, both methods which have a small spatial footprint or, in recent years, by remote sensing satellites with large spatial footprints. The cosmic ray neutron sensor (CRNS) is a proximal technology which provides estimates of field-averaged soil moisture within a radius of up to 240 m from the sensor, offering a much larger sensing footprint than point measurements and providing field-scale information that satellite soil moisture observations cannot capture. Here we compare volumetric soil moisture estimates derived from a novel, less expensive lithium (Li) foil-based CRNS to those from a more expensive commercially available 3He-based CRNS, to measurements from in-situ sensors, and to four intensive surveys of soil moisture in a field with highly variable soil texture. Our results indicate that the accuracy of the Li foil CRNS is comparable to that of the commercially available sensors (MAD = 0.020 m3 m−3), as are the detection radius and depth. Additionally, both sensors capture the influence of soil textural variability on field-average soil moisture. Because novel Li foil-based CRNSs are comparable in accuracy to and much less expensive than current commercially available CRNSs, there is strong potential for future adoption by land and water managers and increased adoption by researchers interested in obtaining field-scale estimates of soil moisture to improve water conservation and sustainability.

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“…A first prototype specifically for soil moisture estimation was developed and tested showing good 70 performance in comparison with independent soil moisture observations (Stevanato et al, 2019). This detector was further improved by, e.g., reducing environmental temperature effects on the recorded signal and reducing its energy consumption (Stevanato et al, 2020). First comparisons with independent data confirmed the good performances of these devices (Gianessi et al, 2021) with the additional advantage of measuring muons for onsite incoming neutron correction (Stevanato et al, 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing a novel sensor design to jointly measure cosmic-ray neutrons, muons and gamma rays for non-invasive soil moisture estimation

Gianessi

Polo²,

Stevanato³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Abstract. Cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) has emerged as a reliable method for soil moisture and snow estimation. However, the applicability of this method beyond research has been limited due to, among others, the use of relatively large and expensive sensors. This paper presents the tests conducted to a new scintillator-based sensor especially designed to jointly measure neutron counts, total gamma-rays, and muons. The neutron signal is firstly compared against two conventional gas-tube-based CRNS sensors at two locations (Austria and Germany). The estimated soil moisture is further assessed at four agricultural sites in Italy based on gravimetric soil moisture collected within the sensor footprint. The results show that the signal detected by the new scintillator-based CRNS sensor is well in agreement with the conventional CRNS sensors and with the gravimetric soil moisture measurements. In addition, the muons and the total gamma-rays simultaneously detected by the sensor show promising features for a better correction of the incoming variability and for discriminating irrigation and precipitation events, respectively. Further experiments and analyses should be conducted, however, to better understand the added value of these additional data for soil moisture estimation. Overall, the new scintillator design shows to be a valid and compact alternative to conventional CRNS sensors for non-invasive soil moisture monitoring that can open the path to a wide range of applications.

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Towards the optimization of a scintillator-based neutron detector for large non-invasive soil moisture estimation

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

An Alternative Incoming Correction for Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Sensing Observations Using Local Muon Measurement

An Alternative Incoming Correction for Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Sensing Observations Using Local Muon Measurement

Novel Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor Accurately Captures Field-Scale Soil Moisture Trends under Heterogeneous Soil Textures

Testing a novel sensor design to jointly measure cosmic-ray neutrons, muons and gamma rays for non-invasive soil moisture estimation

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