The dataset of airborne LiDAR mission in the Zhangye-Yingke flight zone on Jun. 20, 2008 included peak pulse data, full waveform data, CCD photos, DEM, DSM and DOM. The flight routes were as follows: {| ! flight route ! startpoint lat ! startpoint lon ! endpoint lat ! endpoint lon ! altitude (m) ! length (km) ! photos |- | 2 || 38°57′53.06″ || 100°27′22.19″ || 38°50′31.77″ || 100°22′48.36″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 40 |- | 3 || 38°57′49.52″ || 100°27′31.54″ || 38°50′28.23″ || 100°22′57.69″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 40 |- | 4 || 38°57′45.98″ || 100°27′40.88″ || 38°50′24.70″ || 100°23′07.00″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |- | 5 || 38°57′42.44″ || 100°27′50.22″ || 38°50′21.16″ || 100°23′16.35″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |- | 6 || 38°57′38.90″ || 100°27′59.57″ || 38°50′17.63″ || 100°23′25.68″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 79 |- | 7 || 38°57′35.36″ || 100°28′08.91″ || 38°50′14.09″ || 100°23′35.01″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 81 |- | 8 || 38°57′31.81″ || 100°28′18.25″ || 38°50′10.55″ || 100°23′44.34″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |- | 9 || 38°57′28.27″ || 100°28′27.59″ || 38°50′07.01″ || 100°23′53.67″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 81 |- | 10 || 38°57′24.73″ || 100°28′36.94″ || 38°50′03.48″ || 100°24′03.00″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |- | 11 || 38°57′21.19″ || 100°28′46.28″ || 38°49′59.95″ || 100°24′12.33″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 82 |- | 12 || 38°57′17.64″ || 100°28′55.62″ || 38°49′56.41″ || 100°24′21.66″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |- | 13 || 38°57′14.10″ || 100°29′04.96″ || 38°49′52.87″ || 100°24′30.99″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 81 |- | 14 || 38°57′10.56″ || 100°29′14.30″ || 38°49′49.34″ || 100°24′40.32″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 79 |- | 15 || 38°57′07.01″ || 100°29′23.64″ || 38°49′45.80″ || 100°24′49.65″ || 2150 || 15.1 || 80 |}

The dataset of airborne WiDAS mission was obtained in the Zhangye-Yingke-Huazhaizi flight zone on Jun. 29, 2008. Intra-band data available for general users include Level-2C data (after geometric, radiometric and atmospheric corrections), Level-1B browse image (after intra-band matching) and Level-2B browse image (after registration). The raw data, Level-1A, and data processing parameters were filed; applications would be evaluated prior to access. Data processing started in Aug. 2008 and ended in Apr. 2009, and in Nov. 2009, CCD data were reprocessed to adjust radiometric calibration. The flying time of each route was as follows: {| ! id ! flight ! relative height ! starttime ! endtime ! data size ! data state ! data quality ! ground targets |- | 1 || 3#15 || 1500m || 10:54:47 || 11:10:55 || 123 || processed; complete || good |- | 2 || 3#13 || 1500m || 11:15:39 || 11:15:11 || 114 || processed; complete || good |- | 3 || 3#10 || 1500m || 13:55:47 || 14:11:27 || 116 || processed; complete || good || the resort, Yingke weather station maize field and Yingke wheat field |- | 4 || 3#9 || 1500m || 14:08:35 || 14:16:11 || 115 || processed; complete || good || the wetland park,Zhangye city,Yingke weather station maize field, Yingke wheat field, and Huazhaizi desert maize field |- | 5 || 3#7 || 1500m || 14:22:07 || 14:29:47 || 116 || processed; complete || good |- | 6 || 3#5 || 1500m || 14:34:15 || 14:41:43 || 113 || processed; complete || good || Huazhaizi desert plot 1 |- | 7 || 3#3 || 1500m || 14:47:11 || 14:54:47 || 115 || processed; complete || good || Huazhaizi desert plot 2 |- | 8 || 3#1 || 1500m || 14:57:51 || 15:13:03 || 109 || processed; complete || good |}

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with the airborne microwave radiometers (L&K bands) mission was obtained in the Linze station foci experimental area on Jul. 8, 2008. Observation items included: (1) soil moisture (0-5cm) measured by the cutting ring method (50cm^3) in P1 to P6 strips (17 sample points each). Photos were taken. The preprocessed soil volumetric moisture data were archived as Excel files. (2) surface radiative temperature measured by three handheld infrared thermometer (5# and 6# from Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, and one from Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources, which were all calibrated) from P1 to P6 strips. There are 34 sample points in total and each was repeated three times synchronizing with the airplane. Photos were taken. Data were archived as Excel files. See the metadata record “WATER: Dataset of setting of the sampling plots and stripes in the Linze station foci experimental area” for more information of the quadrate locations.

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with MODIS was obtained in the Linze grassland foci experimental area on Jun. 10, 2008. Simultaneous east-west ground measurements on the canopy temperature, the half-height temperature and the surface radiative temperature were carried out by the hand-held infrared thermometer at intervals of 125m in 8 quadrates (2km×2km), No.1 quadrat (H01-H08), No.2 quadrat (H09-H16), No.3 quadrat (H17-H24), No.4 quadrat (H25-H32), No.5 quadrat (H33-H40), No.6 quadrat (H41-H48), No.7 quadrat (H49-H56) and No.8 quadrat (H57-H64). Data were archived in Excel file. See WATER: Dataset of setting of the sampling plots and stripes in the foci experimental area of Linze station for more information.

The dataset of the ground-based microwave radiometers and ground truth observations for soil freeze/thaw cycle was obtained in the A'rou foci experimental area (N38º03.639'/E100º26.793'; 2998m) from May 5 to 8, 2008, S-band from Apr. 6 to 8, C-band from Apr. 7 to 8, K-band from Apr. 5 to 8, and Ka-band on Apr. 5, to be specific. The aims of the measurements were the effects of the soil freeze/thaw status on the microwave brightness temperatures. The observation site was bare land and the soil moisture was 30% after artificial irrigation. Observation items included the soil temperature at 5cm automatically (the time interval: 10m), the soil temperature at 5cm, 10cm, 20cm and 30cm by the probe thermometer (the time interval: 1h), and the soil moisture at 5cm, 10cm, 20cm and 30cm automatically (the time interval: 10m). Seven files were included, four ground-based microwave radiometers (S-band, C-band, K-band and Ka-band) observations, the automatic soil temperature, the manual soil temperature, and the automatic soil moisture, and the last three were archived in Excel format.

The dataset of ground truth measurements synchronizing with the airborne imaging spectrometer (OMIS-II) mission was obtained in the Linze grassland foci experimental area on Jun. 6, 2008. The simultaneous ground data were mainly the land surface temperature measured by the hand-held infrared thermometer in the reed plot A, the saline plots B and C, the alfalfa plot D and the barley plot E, the maximum of which were 120m×120m and the minimum were 30m×30m. Data were archived in Excel format. See WATER: Dataset of setting of the sampling plots and stripes in the foci experimental area of Linze station for more information.

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with Landsat TM was obtained in the A'rou foci experimental area from Jul. 10 to Jul. 12, 2008. The stellera and the whin coverage were mainly measured. Photos were taken in No. 2 quadrate of A'rou and an optional stellera land for coverage mesurement from Jul. 10 to 11, shooting straight downwards at the height of 1.5 m. The fisheye camera was Nikon D80 with a lens of Sigma 8mm F3.5 EX DG CIRCULAR FISHEYE. The vegetation height was measured on Jul. 12. One grid of 5m×5m was chosen in each of the eight quadrates (60m×60m or 120m×120m) and compartmentalized into 2.5m×2.5m, in which GPS positions by GARMIN GPS 76, species, the plant number and height were measured. Four files were included, the quadrates coordinates, stellera observations in No. 2 quadrate, the stellera quadrat investigation and TM quadrate investigation.

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with ALOS PALSAR was obtained in the Linze grassland foci experimental area on Jun. 27, 2008. The data were in FBD mode and HH/HV polarization combinations, and the overpass time was approximately at 23:41 BJT. Observations were carried out in the reed plot A, the saline plot B, the alfalfa plot D and the barley plot E, which were divided into 6×6 subsites, with each one spanning a 120×120 m2 plot. Soil gravimetric moisture, volumetric moisture, and soil bulk density after drying by the cutting ring and the mean soil temperature from 0-5cm by the probe thermometer were measured in A and B; the soil temperature, soil moisture, the loss tangent, soil conductivity, the real part and the imaginary part of soil complex permittivity by the POGO soil sensor, the mean soil temperature from 0-5cm by the probe thermometer, and soil gravimetric moisture, volumetric moisture, and soil bulk density after drying by the cutting ring in D and E. Data were archived in Excel file. See WATER: Dataset of setting of the sampling plots and stripes in the foci experimental area of Linze station for more information.

The dataset of airborne microwave radiometers (L&K) mission was obtained in the A'rou-Biandukou flight zone on Mar. 19, 2008. The frequency of L bands was 1.4 GHz with back sight of 35 degree and dual polarization (H&V) was acquired; and the frequency of K band was 18.7 GHz at the nadir view angle without polarization. The plane took off at Zhangye airport at 9:25 (BJT) and landed at 12:50 along the scheduled lines at the altitude about 4100m and speed about 260km/hr. The raw data include microwave radiometer (L&K bands) data and GPS data; the former are instantaneous non-imaging observation recorded in text, which will be converted into brightness temperatures according to the calibration coefficients (filed with raw data together), and the latter are aircraft longitude, latitude and attitude. Moreover, based on the respective real-time clock log, observations by the microwave radiometer and GPS can be integrated to offer coordinates matching for the former. Yaw, flip, and pitch motions of aircraft were ignored due to the low resolution of microwave radiometer observations. Observation information can also be rasterized, as required, after calibration and coordinates matching. L&K bands resolution (x) and footprint can be approximately estimated as x=0.3H (H is relative flight height) for L band and x=0.24H for K band.

The dataset of eddy covariance observations was obtained at the Yingke Oasis station from 27 Dec. 2007 to 31 Dec. 2009. The observation site is located in an irrigation farmland in Yingke (E100°24′37.2″/N38°51′25.7″, 1519.1m), Zhangye city, Gansu province. The experimental area, situated in the middle stream Heihe river basin and with windbreaks space of 500m from east to west and 300m from south to north, is an ideal choice for its flat and open terrain. The original observation items included the latitudinal wind speed Ux (m/s), the latitudinal wind speed Uy (m/s), the longitudinal wind speed Uz (m/s), the ultrasonic temperature Ts (°C), co2 consistency (mg/m^3), h2o consistency (g/m^3), air pressure (KPa) and the abnormal ultrasonic signal (diag_csat). The instrument mount was 2.81m, the ultrasound direction was at an azimuth angle of 0°, the distance between Li7500 and CSAT3 was 30cm and the sampling frequency was 10HZ/s. The dataset was distributed at three levels: Level0 were the raw data acquired by instruments; Level1, including the sensible heat flux (Hs), the latent heat flux (LE_wpl), and co2 flux (Fc_wpl), were real-time eddy covariance output data and stored in .csv month by month; Level2 were processed data in a 30-minute cycle after outliers elimination, coordinates rotation, frequency response correction, WPL correction and initial quality control. The data files were named as follows: station name +data level+data acquisition date. As for detailed information, please refer to Meteorological and Hydrological Flux Data Guide and Eddy Covariance Observation Manual.

The dataset of mobile meteorological station observations was obtained in the foci experiment area from March to April, 2008. To synergize the very high resolution airborne remote sensing and ground-based measurements, 11 mobile observations, including meteorological stations (for meteorological data) and GPS (for observation sites), were carried out in Binggou, A'rou and Biandukou. The items included the wind speed and direction at 3.03m (the truck height 1.84m plus the vane height 1.19m), the air temperature and humidity at 3.04m (the truck height 1.84m plus the vane height 1.2m), the surface temperature (the truck height 1.84m plus 1.06m) and the total radiation (the truck height 1.84m plus 1.39m). The observation sites and time were as follows: Dadongshu mountain pass-A'rou 15-3-2008 Biandukou-Qilian 18-3-2008 A'rou-Biandukou 19-3-2008 Qilian-Minle 20-3-2008 Mingle-Zhangye 21-3-2008 Binggou-Dadongshu mountain pass 22-3-2008 Binggou-Dadongshu mountain pass 24-3-2008 Binggou-Dadongshu mountain pass 29-3-2008 Binggou-Dadongshu mountain pass 30-3-2008 Qilian-A'rou 31-3-2008 A'rou 01-4-2008 The data were named after WATER_Mobile_ AWS_yyyymmdd (yyyymmdd for observation time).

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with the airborne microwave radiometers (L&K bands) mission was obtained in the Biandukou foci experimental area from 8:25 to 11:15 BJT on Mar. 21, 2008. Observation items included: (1) microwave radiometer observations; (2) the surface radiative temperature by the handheld infrared thermometer and the physical temperature by the thermocouple thermometer; (3) the frost depth by the chopstick and the ruler. The soil was considered frozen when it was hard and with ice crystal; (4) Snow depth by the ruler; (5) the gravimetric soil moisture (soil samples from 0-1cm, 1-3cm and 3-5cm) by the microwave drying method. The volumetric moisture can be calculated by the gravimetric moisture and bulk density. The data can be opened by Microsoft Office. The sample point coordinates were also included.