| Abstract [eng] |
The current study employs the Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant (SWAP) model to simulate soil moisture and evaluate the influence of extreme meteorological conditions on soil in six locations in Lithuania. Soil moisture is an important component of the environment, and when measurements are unavailable, the most reliable method of evaluation is modelling. The results of the study revealed that the model output data closely matched the results of the soil moisture measurements, so the model may be useful for evaluating climate change impact and predicting the effects of extreme conditions on soils. The results also showed that satellite-based soil moisture products cannot replace in situ measurements, which is why modelling is the better alternative. Between 1951 and 2020, soil moisture decreased each month at the beginning of the vegetation season except for July. These changes corresponded partly to changes and redistribution of precipitation during the warm season. Current climate predictions do not reveal clear trends in average soil moisture level, though it is expected that both extremely wet and dry conditions will become more prevalent. The present study demonstrates that modelled soil moisture can be used to identify extremely dry and wet soil conditions, though these may not always correspond to droughts and long rainy periods. Evaluating extreme conditions using soil moisture measurements may provide additional information on the impact of the weather on soils and crops. |
