The dataset of evaportranspiration measured by micro-lysimeter was obtained at the super site (100m×100m, pure Qinghai spruce) around the Dayekou Guantan forest station. Observation items included the ground-based lidar scanning, the total station measuring, DGPS, tally investigation, LAI, canopy spectrum, camera observations of the canopy, soil evapotranspiration, the soil frozen tube observations, surface roughness, precipitation interception, soil moisture and dry-wet weight of the forest component. Observation time was 18:00 every day from Jun. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008. 20 rain gauges, 4 self-made Lysimeter (diameter: 20cm) and the electronic balance were used. Those provide reliable data for retrieval of evapotranspiration from remote sensing data.

The dataset of intensive snow parameter measurements was obtained in the Binggou watershed foci experimental area on Mar. 11, 2008. Those provide reliable data for retrieval of snow parameters from remote sensing approaches. Observation items included the snow layer temperature by the probe thermometer, the snow grain size by the handheld microscope, snow density by the aluminum case, the snow surface temperature by the handheld infrared thermometer, and the snow-soil interface temperature by the handheld infrared thermometer in three plots in BG-Z. 4 points were selected and measured 4 times in each plot. Two files including raw data and preprocessed data (3 subfolders enclosed) on snow properties were archived; besides, profile pictures of each point were also included.

The dataset of ground truth measurements synchronizing with the airborne microwave radiometers (L&K bands) mission was obtained along the sample lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Linze grassland foci experimental area on Jul. 8, 2008. 25 points at intervals of 100m were selected along each line. Simultaneous with the satellite overpass, numerous ground data were collected, soil gravimetric moisture, volumetric moisture, and soil bulk density by the cutting ring, the mean soil temperature from 0-5cm by the probe thermometer, the canopy and the land surface temperature by the hand-held infrared thermometer. 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 drop spectrometer observations was obtained at an interval of 30 seconds in the cold region hydrology experimental area from Mar. 14 to Apr. 14, 2008. The site was chosen in A'rou (N39.06°, E100.44°, 3002m), Qilian county, Qinghai province. The data mainly included the raindrop grain size and the terminal velocity. Besides, dual polarized radar (X-band) parameters such as ZDR and KDR could be further developed based on those data. The observation was carried out within an area of 5400mm^2; the liquid grain diameter was from 0.2-5mm, and the solid grain diameter was from 0.2-25mm.

The dataset of ground truth measurement synchronizing with the airborne imaging spectrometer (OMIS-II) mission was obtained in the Yingke oasis and Huazhaizi desert steppe foci experimental areas on Jun. 4, 2008. Observation items included: (1) ground object reflectance spectra of maize and wheat in Yingke oasis maize field by ASD FieldSpec (350~2500 nm, the vertical canopy observation and the transect observation) from Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (CAS); and of the black and white cloth, the water body, vegetation and the cement floor in the resort calibration site by ASD (350-2500nm, fixed points observation) from BNU. Raw data were binary files direct from ASD (by ViewSpecPro), and pre-processed data on reflectance were in Excel format. (2) The radiative temperature in Yingke oasis maize field (the transect observation), Yingke oasis wheat field (the transect observation), the maize field (intensive) near the resort (the transect observation) and Huazhaizi desert No. 1 plot (the diagonal and the fixed point observation) by the handheld infrared thermometer (emissivity: 1.00). As for the fixed point observation, 25 corner points were chosen in the plot of 30m×30m, and at each point, the bare land was measured twice and the vegetation once. Raw data (in Word format), blackbody calibrated data and processed data (in Excel format) were all archived. (3) Atmospheric parameters on the ICBC resort office roof by CE318 (produced by CIMEL in France) from Institute of Remote Sensing Applications. The total optical depth, aerosol optical depth, Rayleigh scattering coefficient, column water vapor in 936 nm, particle size spectrum and phase function were then retrieved from these observations. The optical depth in 1640nm, 1020nm, 936nm, 870nm, 670nm, 550nm, 440nm, 380nm and 340nm were all acquired by CE318. Those data include the raw data in .k7 format and can be opened by ASTPWin. ReadMe.txt is attached for detail. Processed data (after retrieval of the raw data) in Excel format are on optical depth, rayleigh scattering, aerosol optical depth, the horizontal visibility, the near surface air temperature, the solar azimuth, zenith, solar distance correlation factors, and air column mass number. (4) Photosynthesis of wheat and maize by LI6400 in Yingke oasis maize field, carried out according to WATER specifications. Raw data were archived in the user-defined format (by notepat.exe) and processed data were in Excel format. (5) the radiative temperature vegetation (Reaumuria soongorica) and the bare land in Huazhaizi desert No. 1 plot by ThermaCAM SC2000 ( (1.2m above the ground, FOV = 24°×18°),. The data included raw data (read by ThermaCAM Researcher 2001), recorded data and the blackbody calibrated data (archived in Excel format). (6) the radiative temperature by the automatic thermometer at nadir in Yingke oasis maize field (2 from BNU, FOV: 10°; emissivity: 0.95, at intervals of 1s, set above the maize canopy and the bare land between ridges and the third from Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, emissivity: 1.0, at intervals of 0.05s, set above the maize canopy), Yingke wheat field (one set above the wheat canopy), Huazhaizi desert No. 1 plot (one set above the barley canopy), and in the resort calibration site (one for the cement floor). Raw data, blackbody calibrated data and processed data were all archived in Excel format. (7) Wheat albedo by the shortwave radiometer in Yingke oasis maize field. R =10H (R for FOV radius; H for the probe height). Data were archived in Excel format. (8) Wheat FPAR (Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation) by SUNSACN and the digital camera in Yingke oasis maize field. FPAR= (canopyPAR－surface transmissionPAR－canopy reflection PAR+surface reflectionPAR) /canopy PAR; APAR=FPAR* canopy PAR. Data were archived in the table format of Word. (9) LAI in Yingke oasis maize field. The maximum leaf length and width of each maize and wheat were measured. Data were from Jun. 6, 2008, archived in Excel format.

The dataset of precipitation and canopy interception observations was obtained around the Dayekou Guantan forest station (100m×100m, pure Qinghai spruce) from Jun. 1 to Oct. 10, 2008. Observations were carried out immediately after each rainfall. The following instruments have been used for the observation: the rain gauges (diameter: 20cm; 2 for controlled rainfall and 20 for throughfall), self-made rain slots (20×20×100cm, 10 for throughfall), 5 self-made stem-flow system, self-made moss and litter interception barrel (diameter: 20cm), and rain gauges of the measuring range 10.5mm.

The dataset of ground truth measurements for snow synchronizing with EO-1 Hyperion was obtained in the Binggou watershed foci experimental area on Mar. 22, 2008. Those provide reliable data for retrieval of snow parameters from remote sensing approaches. Observation items included: (1) snow surface emissivity by the portable emissivity determinator near the Binggou cold region hydrometerological station; (2) snow density, snow complex permittivity, snow volumetric moisture and snow gravimetric moisture by the snowfork in BG-A from 11:20-13:53 (BJT) on Mar. 2, 2008; (3) snow parameters in BG-A, BG-B, BG-C, BG-D, BG-E and BG-F, and variables including the snow layer temperature by the probe thermometer, the snow grain size by the handheld microscope, snow density by the aluminum case and the snow surface temperature and the snow-soil interface temperature by the handheld infrared thermometer simultaneous with the satellite; (4) the land surface infrared temperature in BG-D, BG-E, BG-B and BG-F during the airborne mission; (5) fresh snow albedo by the total radiometer east to A2; (6) snow spectrum by the portable ASD from Xinjiang Meteorological Administration and Nanjing University, GPS recordings enclosed. Two files including raw data and preprocessed data were archived.

The dataset of regimen change statistics was obtained at the hydrological section of the Dayekou watershed reservoir from Jan. 1, 2007 to May 23, 2008. Ten days observations were carried out from Oct. 21, 2007 to Apr. 11, 2008, and diurnal observations from Apr. 15 to Oct. 21, 2007, and from Apr. 16 to May 23, 2008. Data record fields included: inflow (m^3/s), water level (m), impoundment (ten thousand m^3/s), outflow (m^3/s), ten days mean inflow (m^3/s), ten days mean outflow (m^3/s), monthly mean inflow (m^3/s), and monthly mean outflow (m^3/s).

The dataset of snow depth measured by the elevation-graduated snow sticks was obtained in the Binggou watershed foci experimental area from Nov. 11 to 16, 2007, during the pre-observation period. 51 snow-stakes (2m long) were arranged according to different topographic landscapes, such as the flat, ubac, tailo and partial shade, and the length above the ground was recorded. From Mar. 2 to Apr. 6, 2008, the intensive observation period, ten measurements (Mar. 2, Mar. 4, Mar. 9, Mar. 16, Mar. 19, Mar. 21, Mar. 23, Mar. 29, Apr. 1 and Apr. 6) were carried out both manually and additionally by the telescope for the snow depth around the snow-stakes. Two files including raw data and preprocessed snow depth data were archived. Those provide reliable data for snow spatial heterogeneity study and snow accumulation and melt monitoring in the Binggou watershed.

The dataset of soil frozen penetration measured by the soil frozen tube was obtained at the super site (100m×100m, pure Qinghai spruce) around the Dayekou Guantan forest station. Observation time was 8:00 each morning from Jun. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008. The soil frozen tube was laid beneath the spruce for diurnal soil frozen depth changes and the maximum depth (cm) was recorded.

The dataset of spectral reflectance observations was obtained by ASD (Analytical Sepctral Devices) in the Yingke oasis and Huazhaizi desert steppe foci experimental areas. Reflectance was calculated based on the equation R = (DN1/DN0)×R0, DN1 indicating DN of the targets, R0 and DN0 the reflectance and DN of the grey board. The reflectance spectra of maize and wheat canopy, the component leaf of the maize and BRDF in Yingke oasis maize field, Yingke oasis wheat field, Huazhaizi desert maize field, the transect spectrum in Huazhaizi desert No. 1 and 2 plots and Linze and Biandukou foci experimental area were measured on May 20, 24, 25, 28 and 30, Jun. 1, 4, 9, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29 and 30, Jul. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11, 2008. Four ASD devices were used, from Peking University (350-2500nm), Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (350-2500nm), Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (350-1065nm) and BNU respectively. The reference boards were 40%, 50% and 99%. The above spectral reflectance dataset was synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner), OMIS-II and various spaceborne sensors. Raw data were binary files direct from ASD (by ViewSpecPro), and pre-processed data on reflectance were in Excel format.

The dataset of airborne microwave radiometers (L&K) mission was obtained in the Biandukou flight zone on Mar. 21, 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 8:00 (BJT) and landed at 11:40, from north to south along the scheduled lines at the altitude about 4100m (400m for the low flight) and speed about 290km/hr . The raw data include microwave radiometer (L&K) data and GPS data; the former were instantaneous non-imaging observation recorded in text, which could be converted into brightness temperatures according to the calibration coefficients (filed with raw data together), and the latter were 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 and x=0.24H for K.