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NASA NTRS1981

Biomass measurement from LANDSAT: Drought and energy applications

The theory supporting the use of vegetation indices derived from LANDSAT data for the direct measurement of biomass is reviewed. The use of multispectral data to measure biomass is a natural and viable application since the photosynthetic production of biomass gives vegetation its unique spectral properties. Vegetation indices also perform a normalization function which tends to make them insensitive to atmospheric and soil color variations. Optical and digital LANDSAT products are discussed relative to the use of vegetation indices to monitor drought impact. Based on results obtained in Colorado, operational use of LANDSAT to monitor drought is cost effective, practical and ready for implementation today. The direct measurement of biomass energy resources may also benefit from LANDSAT technology. Measurement of total biomass and annual primary production may be feasible. Identification of that component of biomass resources available for energy use will require other sources of information, however.

Maxwell, E. L.↗

NASA NTRS2009

The Deep Impact Network Experiment Operations Center Monitor and Control System

The Interplanetary Overlay Network (ION) software at JPL is an implementation of Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) which has been proposed as an interplanetary protocol to support space communication. The JPL Deep Impact Network (DINET) is a technology development experiment intended to increase the technical readiness of the JPL implemented ION suite. The DINET Experiment Operations Center (EOC) developed by JPL's Protocol Technology Lab (PTL) was critical in accomplishing the experiment. EOC, containing all end nodes of simulated spaces and one administrative node, exercised publish and subscribe functions for payload data among all end nodes to verify the effectiveness of data exchange over ION protocol stacks. A Monitor and Control System was created and installed on the administrative node as a multi-tiered internet-based Web application to support the Deep Impact Network Experiment by allowing monitoring and analysis of the data delivery and statistics from ION. This Monitor and Control System includes the capability of receiving protocol status messages, classifying and storing status messages into a database from the ION simulation network, and providing web interfaces for viewing the live results in addition to interactive database queries.

Delay/Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN)↗

NASA NTRS2000

AAT Observations of the SL-9 Fragment C,D, G,K,N,R,V and W Impacts with Jupiter: Lightcurves and Imaging

We used the InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS) on the Anglo-Australian Telescope to monitor the impacts of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter.

near-infrared observations SL-9 Impacts Jupiter Co↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

HydroSAR: A Cloud-based SAR Data Analysis Service to Monitor Hydrological Disasters and their Impact on Population and Agriculture

Weather-related hazards are ubiquitous around the world including: 1) hurricane storm surges, 2) rapid snowmelt and heavy rainfall, 3) severe weather leading to flash floods, and 4) seasonal freeze and thaw of rivers that may lead to ice jams. Each of these hazards affects human settlements and has the potential to impact agricultural productivity. In each setting, end-users in disaster management need access to data processing tools helpful in mapping past and current disasters. Analysis of past events supports risk mitigation by understanding what has already occurred and how to alleviate those impacts in the future. Having capabilities to generate the same products in a response setting means that lessons learned from risk analysis will carry forward to event response. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are particularly useful for these activities due to their all-weather 24/7 monitoring capabilities. In this effort we present HydroSAR, a cloud-based SAR data analysis service for the mapping of meteorological and hydrological disasters as well as their impact on population and agriculture. As part of this project we have developed a series of SAR-based value added products for the monitoring of surface hydrology (image time series, change detection, flood extent, flood depth) and the assessment of impacts on population (flood depth) and agriculture (active agriculture, inundated agriculture, flood duration). We also developed a cloud-based platform for generating these products over affected areas and are working with end-users to integrate derived product into decision-making workflows The paper will briefly introduce the SAR-based products that were developed for this effort. We describe the cloud-based production pipeline that was built to automatically generate these products in near-real time over extended regions. The integration of SAR-based information into hazard preparation and response activities is described for a number of recent disasters including the 2019 forest fires in Alaska, 2019 flooding in the U.S. Midwest, the 2020 U.S. severe weather easter outbreak, 2020 tropical storm Christobal, 2020 cyclone Amphan, 2020, Alaska Spring breakup flooding, and the 2020 flood season in Eastern India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Franz Josef Meyer↗

NASA NTRS2023

Great Salt Lake Health and Air Quality: Monitoring Lakebed Exposure and its Impact on Air Quality and Environmental Hazards in the Great Salt Lake Watershed

Water flow into the Great Salt Lake has declined rapidly over the last forty years due to human withdrawals and climate change. As a result of declining lake levels, over 50% of the lakebed is now exposed. Dust storms may grow in frequency and intensity across Northern Utah as lakebed dust becomes airborne under specific meteorological conditions. In our research project, we utilized satellite imagery from Terra and Aqua, Sentinel-5P, CALIPSO, Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8 OLI-2, Suomi NPP, ground sensor environmental data, and demographic data to understand the relationship between lake desiccation and dust, and the impact of pollution upon the communities surrounding the Great Salt Lake. By plotting changes in Lake Surface Area against Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over our study period (2010-2022), we found an inverse relationship (R2=0.3423) between lake surface area and dust levels within our study area. We conducted a Vertical Feature Mask (VFM) and Extinction Coefficient Plot, from which we identified that during dust events, the aerosol type is mainly polluted dust and the aerosol height is 200 meters from the surface. Lastly, we created bivariate choropleth maps, which demonstrate which census tracts within our study area are most vulnerable to AOD (a proxy for PM2.5 from dust), NO2 and HCHO (precursors to ozone). In summary, our findings revealed that declining lake levels are associated with an increase in intensity of dust events, and these dust events will particularly impact residents of Tooele County and the west side of Salt Lake City. Project resources support partner needs by informing targeted air monitoring efforts, lakebed management practices, and advocacy efforts for GSL stewardship.

Terminal Saline Lake↗

NASA NTRS2017

Damage Detection Sensor System for Aerospace and Multiple Applications

NASA has identified structural health monitoring and damage detection and verification as critical needs in multiple technology roadmaps. The sensor systems can be customized for detecting location, damage size, and depth, with velocity options and can be designed for particular environments for monitoring of impact or physical damage to a structure. The damage detection system has been successfully demonstrated in a harsh environment and remote integration tested over 1000 miles apart. Multiple applications includes: Spacecraft and Aircraft; Inflatable, Deployable and Expandable Structures; Space Debris Monitoring; Space Habitats; Military Shelters; Solar Arrays, Smart Garments and Wearables, Extravehicular activity (EVA) suits; Critical Hardware Enclosures; Embedded Composite Structures; and Flexible Hybrid Printed Electronics and Systems. For better implementation and infusion into more flexible architectures, important and improved designs in advancing embedded software and GUI interface, and increasing flexibility, modularity, and configurable capabilities of the system are currently being carried out.

Williams, Martha↗

NASA NTRS2018

Socioeconomic Impact Evaluation for Near Real-time Flood Detection in the Lower Mekong River Basin

Flood events pose a severe threat to communities in the Lower Mekong River Basin. The combination of population growth, urbanization, and economic development exacerbate the impacts of these events. Flood damage assessments, critical for understanding the effects of flooding on the local population and informing decision-makers about future risks, are frequently used to quantify the economic losses due to storms. Remote sensing systems provide a valuable tool for monitoring flood conditions and assessing their severity more rapidly than traditional post-event evaluations. The frequency and severity of extreme flood events are projected to increase, further highlighting the need for improved flood monitoring and impact analysis. In this study we integrate a socioeconomic damage assessment model with a near real-time flood remote sensing and decision support tool (NASA's Project Mekong). Direct damages to populations, infrastructure, and land cover are assessed using the 2011 Southeast Asian flood as a case study. Improved land use/land cover and flood depth assessments result in rapid loss estimates throughout the Mekong River Basin. Results suggest that rapid initial estimates of flood impacts can provide valuable information to governments, international agencies, and disaster responders in the wake of extreme flood events.

Mekong Basin↗

NASA NTRS2016

Seasonal Variation of Total Mercury Burden in the American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR), Florida

Seasonal variation of mercury (Hg) is not well studied in free-ranging wildlife. Atmospheric deposition patterns of Hg have been studied in detail and have been modeled for both global and specific locations with great accuracy and correlates to environment impact. However, monitoring these trends in wildlife is complicated due to local environmental parameters (e.g., rainfall, humidity, pH, bacterial composition) that can affect the transformation of atmospheric Hg to the biologically available forms. Here, we utilized an abundant and healthy population of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR), FL, and assessed Hg burden in whole blood samples over a span of 7 years (2007 2014; n 174) in an effort to assess seasonal variation of total [Hg]. While the majority of this population is assumed healthy, 18 individuals with low body mass indices (BMI, defined in this study) were captured throughout the 7 year sampling period. These individual alligators exhibited [Hg] that were not consistent with the observed overall seasonal [Hg] variation, and were statistically different from the healthy population of alligators. The alligators with low BMI had elevated concentrations of Hg compared to their age/sex/season matched counterparts with normal BMI. Statistically significant differences were found between the winter and spring seasons for animals with normal BMI. The data in this report supports the conclusion that organismal total [Hg] do fluctuate directly with seasonal deposition rates as well as other seasonal environmental parameters, such as average rainfall and prevailing wind direction. This study highlights the unique environment of MINWR to permit annual assessment of apex predators, such as the American alligator, to determine detailed environmental impact of contaminants of concern.

Hg↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's CLARREO Pathfinder Mission: The Reflected Solar’s First SITSat

The Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder mission will take reflected solar (RS) highly accurate measurements needed to monitor Earth’s climate and will be the first RS SI-traceable Satellite Sensor (SITSat). The mission includes a RS spectrometer that will be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) and take measurements for at least one year. CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) will use on-orbit calibration to achieve an unprecedented high accuracy with SI-traceability and the inter-calibration of other on-orbit instruments. The spectrometer is based on the HyperSpectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) instrument developed by the University of Colorado/Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics of Boulder, CO, USA. HySICS is being designed to have a radiometric uncertainty of 0.3% (1-sigma), a five to ten times improvement over existing spaceflight RS instruments. High accuracy SI-traceable measurements such as these are critical to develop long-term climate-quality data sets. Additionally, by measuring spectral reflectance with high accuracy the CPF instrument will serve as an on-orbit intercalibration radiometric reference for operational Earth-viewing sensors, such as the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) broadband shortwave instrument and the Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). Two-axis pointing, a spectral range from 350 nm to 2300 nm, and a spectral resolution ≤6 nm enable CPF to provide nearly coincident temporal, spatial, angular, and spectral matching of intercalibration targets, with sampling sufficient to reduce random errors. The intercalibration method will refine knowledge of target sensors’ effective offsets, gain, non-linearity, spectral response, and polarization sensitivity (as is relevant). Calibrated reflectance and reflected radiance spectra will be distributed to the scientific community through a NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). We will present an overview of the CLARREO Pathfinder mission, its anticipated impact on monitoring climate variability, and the novel CPF direct intercalibration approach.

climate↗

NASA NTRS1988

Nondestructive evaluation of advanced ceramics

A review is presented of Lewis Research Center efforts to develop nondestructive evaluation techniques for characterizing advanced ceramic materials. Various approaches involved the use of analytical ultrasonics to characterize monolythic ceramic microstructures, acousto-ultrasonics for characterizing ceramic matrix composites, damage monitoring in impact specimens by microfocus X-ray radiography and scanning ultrasonics, and high resolution computed X-ray tomography to identify structural features in fiber reinforced ceramics.

Klima, Stanley J.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Controlling Malaria and Other Diseases Using Remote Sensing

Remote sensing offers the vantage of monitoring a vast area of the Earth continuously. Once developed and launched, a satellite gives years of service in collecting data from the land, the oceans, and the atmosphere. Since the 1980s, attempts have been made to relate disease occurrence with remotely sensed environmental and geophysical parameters, using data from Landsat, SPOT, AVHRR, and other satellites. With higher spatial resolution, the recent satellite sensors provide a new outlook for disease control. At sub-meter to I 10m resolution, surface types associated with disease carriers can be identified more accurately. The Ikonos panchromatic sensor with I m resolution, and the Advanced Land Imager with 1 Om resolution on the newly launched Earth Observing-1, both have displayed remarkable mapping capabilities. In addition, an entire array of geophysical parameters can now be measured or inferred from various satellites. Airborne remote sensing, with less concerns on instrument weight, size, and power consumption, also offers a low-cost alternative for regional applications. NASA/GSFC began to collaborate with the Mahidol University on malaria and filariasis control using remote sensing in late 2000. The objectives are: (1) To map the breeding sites for the major vector species; (2) To identify the potential sites for larvicide and insecticide applications; (3) To explore the linkage of vector population and transmission intensity to environmental variables; (4) To monitor the impact of climate change and human activities on vector population and transmission; and (5) To develop a predictive model for disease distribution. Field studies are being conducted in several provinces in Thailand. Data analyses will soon begin. Malaria data in South Korea are being used as surrogates for developing classification techniques. GIS has been shown to be invaluable in making the voluminous remote sensing data more readily understandable. It will be used throughout this study to clearly demonstrate the spatial relationship between the disease intensities, geophysical variables, and socioeconomic parameters. Asides from malaria and filariasis, application of remote sensing to the control of other diseases have been vigorously pursued by NASA's Environment and Health Initiative. The current program includes projects on Rift Valley fever, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue fever, ebola, African dust and diseases, meningitis, asthma, bartonellosis, cholera, and urban health concerns. Results from these projects indicate that remote sensing will play an increasingly important role in disease control in the future.

Kiang, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Oceanographic Research

The PNF-300 Natural Fluorometer is an optical instrument for oceanographic research developed under NASA contract by Biospherical Instruments, Inc. An important innovation for oceanographers, it measures photosynthetic productivity and estimates phytoplankton production less expensively, is non-intrusive and can be used on site - an improved way of estimating ocean productivity. Applications include environmental impact studies, monitoring plankton concentrations in a reservoir, and other research uses.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2003

Overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment(CAMEX)

The goal of this paper is to present an overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment including CAMEX-3 and CAMEX-4 field campaigns including field operations, aircraft platforms and instrumentation, aircraft missions, and data acquired during 1998 and 2001 field phases. A total of eight tropical storms and hurricanes were investigated during the CAMEX field campaigns including Bonnie, Danielle, Earl, and Georges during 1998 and Chantal, Erin, Gabrielle, and Humberto during 2001. Most of these storms were sampled with aircraft over the open ocean, but Bonnie (1998), Georges (1998), and Gabrielle (2001) also provided opportunities to monitor landfalling impacts. A few of the storms were sampled on multiple occasions during a course of several days. Most notably of these was Hurricane Humberto, which was sampled on three consecutive days during a cycle of both increasing and decreasing intensity change. Information collected for each of the eight CAMEX tropical storms as well the TRMM validation activities have been archived and are readily available for distribution at the CAMEX web site.

Kakar, Ramesh↗

NASA NTRS2006

Overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX)

This paper presents an overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX), including the field operations, aircraft platforms and missions, instrumentation, and data acquired during 1998 and 2001 field campaigns. A total of eight tropical storms and hurricanes were investigated during the CAMEX field campaigns including Bonnie, Danielle, Earl, and Georges during 1998 and Chantal, Erin, Gabrielle, and Humberto during 2001. Most of these storms were sampled with aircraft over the open ocean, but Hurricanes Bonnie (1998), Georges (1998), and Gabrielle (2001) also provided opportunities to monitor landfalling impacts. A few of the storms were sampled on multiple occasions during a course of several days. Most notable of these was Hurricane Humberto, which was sampled on three consecutive days during a cycle of both increasing and decreasing intensity change. Information collected for each of the eight CAMEX tropical storms as well as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission validation activities are accessible via the CAMEX Web site and archived at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center.

Kakar, Ramesh↗

NASA NTRS2015

The Mission Accessibility of Near-Earth Asteroids

The population of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that may be accessible for human space flight missions is defined by the Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS). The NHATS is an automated system designed to monitor the accessibility of, and particular mission opportunities offered by, the NEA population. This is analogous to systems that automatically monitor the impact risk posed to Earth by the NEA population. The NHATS system identifies NEAs that are potentially accessible for future round-trip human space flight missions and provides rapid notification to asteroid observers so that crucial follow-up observations can be obtained following discovery of accessible NEAs. The NHATS was developed in 2010 and was automated by early 2012. NHATS data are provided via an interactive web-site, and daily NHATS notification emails are transmitted to a mailing list; both resources are available to the public.

Mission Design↗

NASA NTRS2019

Volcanology from Space: Iceland

Volcanoes represent a significant source of airborne particles that can produce local, regional and global effects, impacting Earth systems and human health. Individual eruption characteristics influence their environmental impact. Satellite monitoring provides global observations even for remote volcanoes. Changes in volcanic emissions correspond to variations in the magma plumbing system. By tracking emissions we aim to help understand the processes occurring at depth.

Flower, Verity J. B.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Massachusetts Water Resources: Assessing Flood Events Resulting from North American Beaver Reintroduction with NASA Earth Observations to Inform Biodiversity and Infrastructure Management

North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are returning to Massachusetts after overhunting decimated their populations in the 1700s. Current regulations have allowed this species to recolonize, resulting in increasingly prevalent human-beaver conflicts. These ecosystem engineers can quickly change their environment through the creation of dams, leading to floods that can adversely affect human infrastructures, such as basements, roads, or septic systems. Conversely, beaver dams can positively influence their environment, modifying the physical and chemical properties of streams and providing crucial habitats to a variety of wildlife. The 2020 Spring Boston NASA DEVELOP team collaborated with the Massachusetts Audubon Society to support their efforts in monitoring beaver impacts and managing human-beaver conflicts. The project-utilized data from Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager to map the spectral signature created from beaver-induced flooding. The team created a tool called Beaver-Flood Event Detector (B-FED) in Google Earth Engine using imagery from 1985 to 2019. Ancillary datasets were incorporated into B-FED that allow the tool to highlight flood events in wetland areas and in situ observations of beaver presence. Beaver observations in or near flooded areas indicated likelihood that the flood was beaver induced. Time series and animations were also produced to display key regions of landscape change across Massachusetts. B-FED will allow the partner to identify and assess potential ecosystem changes and infrastructural impacts from beavers across Massachusetts and inform future management practices.

Water Resources↗

NASA NTRS2020

Massachusetts Water Resources: Assessing Flood Events Resulting from North American Beaver Reintroduction with NASA Earth Observations to Inform Biodiversity and Infrastructure Management

Water Resources↗