Review and assessment of current protocols of the Network of stations for the Monitoring of Physical Parameters of Soils in Catalonia (XMS-Cat)

The Network of stations for the Monitoring of physical Parameters of Soils in Catalonia (XMS-Cat) acquires and provides continuous data on in situ soil temperature and moisture at different depths of the soil profile. Initiated in 2015, this relatively young network currently comprises 19 stations and is expanding at a steady rate of two stations per year, aiming for full coverage of the region. Accelerated coverage expansion is planned through data-hosting agreements with privately owned stations, such as those associated with wine protected designations.
The network has recently undertaken a comprehensive review and assessment of its deployment, installation, and data quality assurance protocols to ensure adherence to established best practices, long-term viability, and consistency with other networks.
This contribution provides an overview of the XMS-Cat network and presents the preliminary results of the ongoing review. The aim is to foster dialogue among networks and stakeholders while leveraging the collective knowledge of this dynamic community.