 |
|
NASA-conceived map of Antarctica lays ground for new discoveries
November 28, 2007A team of researchers from NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Science Foundation and the British Antarctic Survey unveiled a newly completed map of Antarctica today that is expected to revolutionize research of the continent's frozen landscape.
The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica is a result of NASA's state-of-the-art satellite technologies and an example of the prominent role NASA continues to play as a world leader in the development and flight of Earth-observing satellites.
The map is a realistic, nearly cloudless satellite view of the continent at a resolution 10 times greater than ever before with images captured by the NASA-built Landsat 7 satellite. With the unprecedented ability to see features half the size of a basketball court, the mosaic offers the most geographically accurate, true-color, high-resolution views of Antarctica possible.
"This mosaic of images opens up a window to the Antarctic that we just haven't had before," said Robert Bindschadler, chief scientist of the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "It will open new windows of opportunity for scientific research as well as enable the public to become much more familiar with Antarctica and how scientists use imagery in their research. This innovation is like watching high-definition TV in living color versus watching the picture on a grainy black-and-white television. These scenes don't just give us a snapshot, they provide a time-lapse historical record of how Antarctica has changed and will enable us to continue to watch changes unfold."
Researchers can use the detailed map to better plan scientific expeditions. The mosaic's higher resolution gives researchers a clearer view over most of the continent to help interpret changes in land elevation in hard-to-access areas. Scientists also think the true-color mosaic will help geologists better map various rock formations and types.
To construct the new Antarctic map, researchers pieced together more than a thousand images from three years of Landsat satellite observations. The resulting mosaic gives researchers and the public a new way to explore Antarctica through a free, public-access
Web portal. Eight different versions of the full mosaic are available to download.
In 1972, the first satellite images of the Antarctic became available with the launch of NASA's Earth Resources Technology Satellite (later renamed Landsat). The series of Landsat satellites have provided the longest, continuous global record of land surface and its historical changes in existence. Prior to these satellite views, researchers had to rely on airplanes and survey ships to map Antarctica's ice-covered terrain.
Images from the Landsat program, now managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, led to more precise and efficient research results as the resolution of digital images improved over the years with upgraded instruments on each new Earth-observing satellite.
"We have significantly improved our ability to extract useful information from satellites as embodied in this Antarctic mosaic project," said Ray Byrnes, liaison for satellite missions at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va. "As technology progressed, so have the satellites and their image resolution capability. The first three in the Landsat series were limited in comparison to Landsats 4, 5, and 7."
Bindschadler, who conceived the project, initiated NASA's collection of images of Antarctica for the mosaic project in 1999. He and NASA colleagues selected the images that make up the mosaic and developed new techniques to interpret the image data tailored to the project. The mosaic is made up of about 1,100 images from Landsat 7, nearly all of which were captured between 1999 and 2001. The collage contains almost no gaps in the landscape, other than a doughnut hole-shaped area at the South Pole, and shows virtually no seams.
"The mosaic represents an important U.S.-U.K. collaboration and is a major contribution to the International Polar Year," said Andrew Fleming of British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, England. "Over 60,000 scientists are involved in the global International Polar Year initiative to understand our world. I have no doubt that polar researchers will find this mosaic, one of the first outcomes of that initiative, invaluable for planning science campaigns."
NASA has 14 Earth-observing satellites in orbit with activities that have direct benefit to humankind. After NASA develops and tests new technologies, the agency transfers activities to other federal agencies. The satellites have helped revolutionize the information that emergency officials have to respond to natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.
The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica is now available on the Web at:
http://lima.usgs.gov
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/lima_feature.html
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
"This mosaic of images opens up a window to the Antarctic that we just haven't had before," said Robert Bindschadler, chief scientist of the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "It will open new windows of opportunity for scientific research as well as enable the public to become much more familiar with Antarctica and how scientists use imagery in their research. This innovation is like watching high-definition TV in living color versus watching the picture on a grainy black-and-white television. These scenes don't just give us a snapshot, they provide a time-lapse historical record of how Antarctica has changed and will enable us to continue to watch changes unfold."
Researchers can use the detailed map to better plan scientific expeditions. The mosaic's higher resolution gives researchers a clearer view over most of the continent to help interpret changes in land elevation in hard-to-access areas. Scientists also think the true-color mosaic will help geologists better map various rock formations and types.
To construct the new Antarctic map, researchers pieced together more than a thousand images from three years of Landsat satellite observations. The resulting mosaic gives researchers and the public a new way to explore Antarctica through a free, public-access
Web portal. Eight different versions of the full mosaic are available to download.
In 1972, the first satellite images of the Antarctic became available with the launch of NASA's Earth Resources Technology Satellite (later renamed Landsat). The series of Landsat satellites have provided the longest, continuous global record of land surface and its historical changes in existence. Prior to these satellite views, researchers had to rely on airplanes and survey ships to map Antarctica's ice-covered terrain.
Images from the Landsat program, now managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, led to more precise and efficient research results as the resolution of digital images improved over the years with upgraded instruments on each new Earth-observing satellite.
"We have significantly improved our ability to extract useful information from satellites as embodied in this Antarctic mosaic project," said Ray Byrnes, liaison for satellite missions at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va. "As technology progressed, so have the satellites and their image resolution capability. The first three in the Landsat series were limited in comparison to Landsats 4, 5, and 7."
Bindschadler, who conceived the project, initiated NASA's collection of images of Antarctica for the mosaic project in 1999. He and NASA colleagues selected the images that make up the mosaic and developed new techniques to interpret the image data tailored to the project. The mosaic is made up of about 1,100 images from Landsat 7, nearly all of which were captured between 1999 and 2001. The collage contains almost no gaps in the landscape, other than a doughnut hole-shaped area at the South Pole, and shows virtually no seams.
"The mosaic represents an important U.S.-U.K. collaboration and is a major contribution to the International Polar Year," said Andrew Fleming of British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, England. "Over 60,000 scientists are involved in the global International Polar Year initiative to understand our world. I have no doubt that polar researchers will find this mosaic, one of the first outcomes of that initiative, invaluable for planning science campaigns."
NASA has 14 Earth-observing satellites in orbit with activities that have direct benefit to humankind. After NASA develops and tests new technologies, the agency transfers activities to other federal agencies. The satellites have helped revolutionize the information that emergency officials have to respond to natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.
The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica is now available on the Web at:
http://lima.usgs.gov
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/lima_feature.html
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Antarctic Survey Current Events and Antarctic Survey News RSSIce Shelves Disappearing on Antarctic Peninsula
Ice shelves are retreating in the southern section of the Antarctic Peninsula due to climate change. This could result in glacier retreat and sea-level rise if warming continues, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide.
Where do puffins go in the winter?
A recent increase in winter mortality in Atlantic puffins could be due to worsening conditions within the North Sea, according to new findings published in the scientific journal Marine Biology.
Arctic Could Face Warmer and Ice-Free Conditions
There is increased evidence that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future.
New Discoveries Could Improve Climate Projections
New discoveries about the deep ocean's temperature variability and circulation system could help improve projections of future climate conditions.
Climate Projections Underestimate CO2 Impact
The climate may be 30-50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide in the long term than previously thought, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience yesterday.
First comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica's climate
The first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica's climate and its relationship to the global climate system is published this week (Tuesday 1 December) by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
Antarctica glacier retreat creates new carbon dioxide store
Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas of open water left exposed by the recent and rapid melting of ice shelves and glaciers around the Antarctic Peninsula.
New research provides insight into ice sheet behavior
A new study published this week takes scientists a step further in their quest to understand how Antarctica's vast glaciers will contribute to future sea-level rise.
Your own private global warming
A group of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey have collected individuals from a wide range of species commonly found in Antarctic waters and subjected them to increasing levels of water temperature to learn how each species is prepared to cope with the conditions that they are likely to experience in the future.
New Antarctic seabed sonar images reveal clues to sea-level rise
Motorway-sized troughs and channels carved into Antarctica's continental shelves by glaciers thousands of years ago could help scientists to predict future sea-level rise.
More Antarctic Survey Current Events and Antarctic Survey News Articles
|
Research in the Antarctic: The work of the British Antarctic Survey by British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council (Publisher) | |
 |
Oversnow Geophysical Team of the British Antarctic Survey, Antarctica, Polar Regions Photographic Poster Print by Geoff Renner, 30x40 by AllPosters.com Oversnow Geophysical Team of the British Antarctic Survey, Antarctica, Polar Regions is digitally printed on archival photographic paper resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for any museum or gallery display. Finding that perfect piece to match your interest and style is easy and within your budget! |
|
The geology of the South Orkney Islands (Scientific reports / British Antarctic Survey) by Janet W Thomson (Author) | |
|
British Antarctic Survey Annual Report 2002 - 2003. by British Antartctic Survey (Author) | |
 |
U.S. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION OFF FOR YEAR'S SURVEY, Sled Dogs ... Year's Supply Of Slow-Burning Camel Cigarettes Accompany Admiral Byrd To Antarctic. ..... 1940 Camel Cigarettes Ad, A3038 This Item is an original Magazine ad, taken from a vintage magazine of the year indicated. The ad is suitable for framing and displaying in your home or office. The scan of this item was taken through plastic film, however it is an accurate representation of the item. The nominal size is 10.5 inches by 14 inches. |
|
British Antarctic Survey Annual Report by Brit. Antarctic Survey (Publisher) | |
|
The geology of parts of the west coast of Palmer Land (Scientific reports / British Antarctic Survey) by C. G Smith (Author) | |
|
|
Oversnow Geophysical Team of the British Antarctic Survey, Antarctica, Polar Regions Photographic Poster Print by Geoff Renner, 30x40 by Art.com Oversnow Geophysical Team of the British Antarctic Survey, Antarctica, Polar Regions is digitally printed on archival photographic paper resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for any museum or gallery display. Finding that perfect piece to match your interest and style is easy and within your budget! |
|
Geology of Parts of Central West Palmer Land (Scientific reports / British Antarctic Survey) by M.E. Ayling (Author) | |
|
The geology of the Ablation Point-Keystone Cliffs area, Alexander Island (Scientific reports - British Antarctic Survey ; no. 82) by Brian J Taylor (Author) |
| © 2010 BrightSurf.com |