Performance evaluation of soil moisture profile estimation through entropy-based and exponential filter models

In this study we analyzed two models commonly used in remote sensing-based root-zone soil moisture (SM) estimations: one utilizing the exponential decaying function and the other derived from the principle of maximum entropy (POME). We used both models to deduce root-zone (0-100 cm) SM conditions at 11 sites located in the southeastern USA for the period 2012-2017 and evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of each approach against ground observations. The results indicate that, temporally, at shallow depths (10 cm), both models performed similarly, with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.89 (POME) and 0.88 (exponential). However, with increasing depths, the models start to deviate: at 50 cm the POME resulted in r of 0.93 while the exponential filter (EF) model had r of 0.58. Similar trends were observed for unbiased root mean square error (ubRMSE) and bias. Vertical profile analysis suggests that, overall, the POME model had nearly 30% less ubRMSE compared to the EF model, indicating that the POME model was relatively better able to distribute the moisture content through the soil column.