TB05

Soil Temperature, under bare soil (5 cm)

The average temperature during a 15-minute interval at a depth of 5 centimeters below the ground; the surface under which the measurement is taken is not vegetated.

  • Thermistor probes sheathed in stainless steel are buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • The tower provides short duration (i.e., less than 30 minutes) intermittent shade to the soil temperature plot during late spring through early fall. In extreme instances, this shading can cause a dip in the 5-cm soil temperature of 1-2 °C.
  • This measurement was discontinued in December 2013.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Stainless Steel Encased 10K Thermistor Probe degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C

Thermistor Sensor

A bare plot

TB10

Soil Temperature, under bare soil (10 cm)

The average temperature at a depth of 10 centimeters below the ground during a 15-minute interval; the surface under which the measurement is taken is not vegetated.

  • Thermistor probes sheathed in stainless steel (prior to December 2013) or thermocouple sensor (December 2013 and afterward) are buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • Bare soil temperatures are useful for planting decisions under conventional tillage regimes (i.e., the vast majority of Oklahoma farms) and can be used to monitor soil conditions until a complete crop canopy develops.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Stainless Steel Encased 10K Thermistor Probe degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C
Standard - Secondary Thermocouple Sensor degrees Celsius

±0.5 °C

Thermistor Sensor

Thermocouple Sensor

A bare plot

TS05

Soil Temperature, under sod (5 cm)

The average temperature during a 15-minute interval at a depth of 5 centimeters below the ground; the surface under which the measurement is taken is vegetated.

  • Thermistor probes sheathed in stainless steel (pre December 2013) or thermocouple sensor (December 2013 and afterward) are buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • Similar to 10 cm soil temperature under sod but TS05 is typically above the root level of crops.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Stainless Steel Encased 10K Thermistor Probe degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C
Standard - Secondary Thermocouple Sensor degrees Celsius

±0.5 °C

Thermistor Sensor

Thermocouple Sensor

A sod plot

TS25

Soil Temperature, under sod (10 cm)

The average temperature at a depth of 10 centimeters below the ground during a 15-minute interval; the surface under which the measurement is taken is vegetated.

  • Thermistor probes sheathed in stainless steel (prior to December 2013) or thermocouple sensor (December 2013 and afterward) are buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • This soil temperature reading can be very important to the vast acreage of rangeland across the state, as well as for planting decisions under reduced or no-tillage systems, for soil condition monitoring under a crop canopy, and for industries such as turfgrass.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Stainless Steel Encased 10K Thermistor Probe degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C
Standard - Secondary Thermocouple Sensor degrees Celsius

±0.5 °C

Thermistor Sensor

Thermocouple Sensor

A sod plot

TS30

Soil Temperature, under sod (30 cm)

The average temperature during a 15-minute interval at a depth of 30 centimeters below the ground; the surface under which the measurement is taken is vegetated.

  • Thermistor probes sheathed in stainless steel are buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • This measurement was discontinued in December 2013.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Stainless Steel Encased 10K Thermistor Probe degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C

Thermistor Sensor

A sod plot

TS25

Soil Temperature, under sod (25 cm)

The average temperature during a 15-minute interval at a depth of 25 centimeters below the ground; the surface under which the measurement is taken is vegetated.

  • Thermocouple sensor buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • This measurement began in December 2013.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Thermocouple Sensor degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C

Thermocouple Sensor

A sod plot

TS60

Soil Temperature, under sod (60 cm)

The average temperature during a 15-minute interval at a depth of 60 centimeters below the ground; the surface under which the measurement is taken is vegetated.

  • Thermocouple sensor buried horizontally in undisturbed ground. Because the cables connecting the thermistors to the tower might conduct surface heat and divert draining rainwater, they were buried deeper than the thermistors, then angled upward.
  • This measurement began in December 2013.
Type Sensor Used Standards Units Accuracy
Standard - Secondary Thermocouple Sensor degrees Celsius ±0.5 °C

Thermocouple Sensor

A sod plot