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Chris and I discussed his installation of these probes (he did at FLR and FAR). He oriented them horizontally, nominally at the level of the second? picklefork tine (1.9cm). However, there have been HUGE soilT vertical gradients -- 15 degrees between 0.6 and 4.4cm is common in the middle of the day -- so even a small vertical (or even horizontal?) difference in position could cause the differences of up to several degrees that we are seeing.
I don't know how Kurt and Gordon positioned this sensor at NEAR.
I don't believe any action is required at this point.