A fine-resolution soil moisture dataset for China in 2002~2018

The SMC dataset present a high spatial resolution monthly soil moisture raster dataset over China, spanning form the year 2002 to 2018, and the data are presented over a grid with 0.05°. The data set consists of satellite-based AMSR-E/2 and SMOS SM, and base on a spatially weighted decomposition (SWD) model, using the TVDI calculated from MODIS LST/NDVI data as a weighting factor, downscaling to obtain fine spatial resolution SM. Overall, new datasets were strongly correlated with in-situ observations (correlation coefficient <em>R</em>: 0.82, 0.88, and 0.9 and unbiased root mean square error (ubRMSE): 0.051, 0.048 and 0.042 m³m^-3on monthly, seasonal and annual scales, respectively). The dataset unprecedentedly long-term high spatial resolution offers important advantages for drought monitoring and its assessment at district and river basin level climate change in China.