June 21, 2024

Trenton Franz inspects one of the cosmic ray neutron sensors at the edge of a field at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead, Nebraska. The sensors' readings indicate soil moisture levels. Solar flares, such as those that produced the auroras in Nebraska on May 10-11, trigger electromagnetic interference in the sensors' readings. UNL has taken steps to correct the distortions and ensure data reliability. Franz is using neutron and cosmic ray detectors to see how solar radiation and solar energy such as those that caused Nebraska to view the Northern Lights is effecting precision farming including soil moisture detectors and the GPS in tractors. June 21, 2024. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication and Marketing.