A 2002 NASA study found a significant decline in coral cover and species diversity after the 'black water' event, which was caused by a bloom of microscopic marine plants. The dark water reduced sunlight absorption, affecting the ecosystem.
NASA's Aqua satellite and a P-3 Orion aircraft are conducting a joint research effort to gather data on snowfall and rainfall in Wakasa Bay, Japan. The study aims to improve the accuracy of global hydrologic cycle data and better understand precipitation patterns in the north Pacific.
The Ohio State team is contributing to NASA's ICESat mission, which aims to map the Earth's ice sheets using a radar-like system. The team has developed lidar mapping software that will help calibrate the satellite's lidar system and create accurate maps of ice sheet extent.
Researchers used satellite data to identify environments associated with human risk of hantavirus infection, finding that woody plants dominated high-risk sites. The study provides a way to monitor the environment for infectious disease risks and better understand why outbreaks happen where they do.
The COSMIC satellite network will collect a global, 3-D data set, improving analyses of both weather and climate change. The satellites will probe the atmosphere using radio occultation to track temperature in the upper atmosphere and measure high-altitude electron density.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography used satellite and radar technologies to monitor the height and thickness of Antarctica's ice shelves. They successfully measured the effect of tides on ice shelf height, allowing for more accurate tracking of climate-related changes.
The EO-1 satellite has produced over four times the expected volume of imagery, demonstrating the effectiveness of its Hyperion and Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instruments in monitoring Earth's surfaces. These instruments have already proven invaluable in applications such as forestry and agricultural crop assessment.
The FLAMBE project utilizes geostationary satellites to detect and monitor forest fires every half-hour, providing early warnings of haze events. The system also estimates burned areas, smoke fluxes, and radiative impacts, complementing NASA's Terra satellite products for improved global climate understanding.
A study using satellite ocean color data has shed light on the spring bloom of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic, a critical factor in the carbon cycle and global warming. The research found that simple models can accurately predict the timing of the bloom, with plankton animals and bacteria playing a key role in its duration.
Large icebergs from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf are dramatically affecting the growth of minute plant life in the ocean, with a 40% reduction in phytoplankton blooms observed. The icebergs block normal drift of pack ice, reducing open water and altering the marine ecosystem.
Researchers used satellite imagery to study the effects of an iceberg on a marine ecosystem in Antarctica. The study found that extensive ice cover reduced phytoplankton production by 40% and affected the entire food chain from krill to fish, seals, whales, penguins, and other species.
The Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has returned to full-time science operations after a guidance system fix. Scientists and engineers used electromagnets to push and pull on the Earth's magnetic field, achieving sub-arcsecond pointing stability and unlocking nearly half the sky for observations.
Scientists tested the Iris effect using CERES instrument on TRMM satellite, finding clouds slightly destabilize climate instead of cooling it. The study challenges recent theory proposing clouds cool the Earth and counteract predictions of global warming.
The Starshine Satellite Project involves students from Pakistan, New Zealand, Brazil, and India polishing thousands of mirrors to help calibrate The Fence, the Navy's space surveillance network. Once launched, students will be able to track the satellite's movement as it passes across the skies.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft will continue to provide vital data on global rainfall and climate change with its extended mission. Scientists anticipate improved climate predictions and a more robust record of rainfall patterns.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing instruments to measure aerosol pollution's impact on climate. The devices will study aerosols' interaction with light, absorption of sunlight, and their effect on cloud formation.
New satellite-generated rain maps provide more accurate tropical rainfall measurements, helping manage water resources and understand El Niño-La Niña patterns. The TRMM satellite's high-resolution data also enables better weather forecasting and climate projections.
A team of Stanford geophysicists used satellite radar images to detect rising volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands, a sign that they may erupt soon. The study found four out of six volcanoes on Isabela Island had risen in size over a seven-year period.
A new iceberg has broken from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf, just east of one discovered on March 17. The new iceberg is approximately 130 km by 20 km and was detected using high-resolution satellite data provided by the Antarctic Meteorological Research Center.
The XMM-Newton satellite is now operational, sending home images of celestial objects and observing bright binary stars, pulsars, and cataclysmic variables. It will study massive black holes and exotic stars, mapping the cosmos to greater distances.
A new NASA satellite has provided unprecedented sensitivity to detect molecular hydrogen, the primary ingredient for star and planet formation. This discovery suggests that star formation proceeds similarly across various space environments, including nearby galaxies.
Researchers discuss seasonal cycles of air exchange, improved models for water vapor, and aerosol levels rising. They also examine the decay rate of aerosols in models versus satellite observations and their impact on Earth's climate.
Scientists create a new 'drought map' using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite data to identify areas hardest hit by the drought. The map compares current surface temperature measurements to average temperatures over the last 10 years, showing whether an area has a normal, low, medium or high drought index.
The new satellite-based tools provide unprecedented insights into tropical cyclones, allowing scientists to break them down into their component parts. This 'data fusion' technique enables the development of advanced hurricane forecasting methods, such as Wavetrak, which sheds light on the origin and intensity of these storms.
The QuikScat satellite, launched on June 19, will provide daily snapshots of ocean winds to improve weather forecasting. The satellite is controlled by students and faculty at CU's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
Purdue University's Agricultural Validation and Verification Site provides a nationwide source of image-decoding data for farmers to interpret satellite images. The site, launched by remote-sensing researcher Chris Johannsen, will help farmers identify nutrient deficiencies, pests, and other issues in real-time.
At the 95th annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers, researchers will present papers on declassified satellite data revealing secret technological breakthroughs during the Cold War. Additionally, sound maps for visually-impaired individuals and fire risk mapping techniques using satellite images to predict forest fire...
The Boston University TERRIERS team is gearing up to launch a satellite designed to produce unprecedented three-dimensional images of the ionosphere. The satellite will enable scientists to better predict space weather conditions that can disrupt communication systems on Earth.
Researchers at Hughes Space and Communications have developed a new ion propulsion system that can keep satellites in orbit for up to 25 years, using the inert gas xenon. This innovation reduces the need for frequent fuel replacements, ensuring reliable signal reception and preventing collisions with neighboring satellites.
Researchers developed tests to determine how well bipolar electronics, commonly used in satellites, can survive long-term radiation exposure. The tests, led by Sandia National Laboratories, predict a 10-year response in just a few weeks and have already benefited systems, preventing potential failures.
A new satellite tagging technology has resolved the mysteries of tuna migration, revealing that bluefin tuna can move up to 1,670 nautical miles in 90 days. The tags, deployed in 1996 and 1997, have high survivorship rates and provide valuable information for managing giant bluefin tuna populations.
Researchers confirm massive ice shelf break-off using satellite images, indicating rapid collapse beginning early next year. The 12,000 square kilometer Larsen B Ice Shelf is nearing its stability limit due to regional climate warming, with two-thirds of the ice sheet now at risk.
NASA's Global Hydrology and Climate Center provides real-time geostationary satellite data, enabling users to view weather formations, temperature, winds, and precipitation in various regions. The center offers an interactive viewer with low-resolution animations and on-demand image sequences.
The University of Colorado's Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite is successfully returning science data, measuring nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere and X-rays from the sun. The NASA mission was controlled by students and faculty 24/7, marking the second university-led satellite to be operated.
The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite, designed and built by a team of University of Colorado at Boulder students and faculty, is set for launch on Feb. 4. The mission aims to measure nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere affecting Earth's ozone layer, x-rays from the sun, and ultraviolet light from Earth's aurora.
A team of NASA scientists disagrees with a recent study suggesting that satellite data shows no warming trend in the Earth's lower atmosphere, while surface temperature data shows a +0.12 deg C/decade increase. The disagreement is largely due to differences between satellite and surface measurements over oceans versus land areas.
A team of scientists from NCAR analyzed global temperature trends obtained via satellites and surface instruments. They found that satellite data can produce spurious drops due to changes in satellite records, which can mask actual rises in global temperatures.
The USGS National Earthquake Information Center lost near real-time data from the AT&T Telstar 401 satellite, but regional networks and cooperation with other seismic networks maintained earthquake monitoring. Smaller earthquakes are now harder to track due to slower reporting times.
A new algorithm using transformations can optimize robotic movements, reducing calculation time by up to 10-fold. This technique may enable robots to perform tasks more efficiently in space and on Earth, such as satellite repairs and inspection tasks.
A graduate student's daily satellite inspection spotted the eruption, providing an early warning system. The discovery also triggered a computerized ash-plume tracking model to forecast the ash cloud's movement and issue alerts to airlines.