The high spatial resolution and high orbit of ICESat-2 make it suited for measuring sea level close to the coast and in the polar regions, filling a gap in our sea level observational system.
Remote sensing
Una mirada global al carbono orgánico superficial del suelo
El carbono orgánico del suelo es un elemento importante para la salud de los ecosistemas y del clima. En la actualidad la teledetección permite a los científicos observar globalmente esta importante pieza del rompecabezas del carbono.
Urban Vegetation Key Regulator for Heat Island Intensity
Satellite data reveals that urban vegetation, especially urban forests, is the most important factor regulating Urban Heat Island intensity.
High Climatic Response of High-Latitude Forests
The seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2 is increasing, partly due to boreal forest responses to warming. Photosynthesis and expansion of boreal forests are shown here to be temperature-limited.
How Forest Degradation Affects Carbon and Water Cycles
Forest degradation may be as widespread as deforestation in the Amazon, but its impact on energy, carbon, and water fluxes is less well understood.
Machine Learning Predicts Subsidence from Groundwater Pumping
Machine learning and data on aquifer type, sediment thickness, and proxies for irrigation water use has been used to produce the most comprehensive map of land subsidence in the western U.S. to date.
Canada’s Rocky Mountain Forests Are on the Move
Using century-old surveying photos, scientists have mapped 100 years of change in the Canadian Rockies to document the climate-altered landscape.
Earth Observations Inform Cities’ Operations and Planning
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Chicago, Ill., are using NASA Earth observations to map, monitor, and forecast water and air quality, urban heat island effects, landslide risks, and more.
Great Plains Plants Bounce Back After Large Wildfires
An analysis of nearly 1,400 wildfires suggests that some postfire techniques used to help restore vegetation may be unnecessary.
Snowpack Data Sets Put to the Test
A new study compares the accuracy of three observation-based methods of calculating snow water equivalent, a key component in water management.