Soil moisture levels rose across Illinois the second week of September as the state saw increased rainfall and cooler soil temperatures, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey at the U. of I. Prairie Research Institute.
Stations in the Illinois Climate Network reported an average of 1.58 inches of rain from Sept. 8 to 11, with stations in Springfield, Carbondale and Brownstown (Fayette County) recording more than 3.50 inches during the time period.
The higher rainfall led to increases in soil moisture. On average, levels at 2 inches increased 54 percent from Sept. 7 to 11 to a two-week high of 0.33 water fraction by volume (wfv). Levels declined slightly to an average of 0.27 wfv on Sept. 15, well above the wilting point for most soil types. Similar trends were seen at depths of 4 and 8 inches.
Conditions remained wet at depths of 39 and 59 inches, with little change seen at either depth.
Warmer weather brought higher-than-normal soil temperatures the first week of September. Temperatures averaged in the low to mid-80s from Sept. 1 to 8, only to fall to the mid-60s during the second week. Temperatures under bare soil averaged 71.9 degrees at 2 inches and 71.6 degrees at 4 inches on Sept. 15.
Soil temperatures under sod followed similar trends, though the declines were slightly less. On Sept. 15, temperatures averaged 69.5 and 69.4 degrees at 4 and 8 inches, respectively.
The Illinois State Water Survey’s WARM Program collects hourly and daily weather and soil information at 19 stations across the state. Hourly, daily and monthly data can be found at the WARM website and in the Illinois Water and Climate Summary.
Notes:
Source: Jennie Atkins, 217-333-4966, jatkins@illinois.edu
Editor: Lisa Sheppard, 217-244-7270, sheppard@illinois.edu
