NASA Dryden's ER-2 Collects Soil Moisture Data Over The O.K. Corral

EARTH OBSERVATION

The ER-2

Tombstone AZ (SPX) Aug 09, 2004
Tombstone, Arizona, is a dusty place known for Wyatt Earp's famous 1881 "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral." This year, from August 2 to 27, it will be known as the place where scientists from NASA, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other institutions gather and study soil moisture to improve weather forecasts and the ability to interpret satellite data.

NASA's ER-2 high-altitude aircraft is flying Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 (SMEX04) missions over Arizona from its base at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The aircraft carries the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer that investigates methods for remotely sensing water content in plants.

Also onboard is the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Airborne Simulator. This instrument collects thermal infrared data on soil moisture content that complements the spectral-resolution of AVIRIS.

ER-2 mission manager Jeannette van den Bosch said the ER-2's involvement in the experiment was due to the serendipitous availability of the aircraft between other scheduled science missions.

SMEX04 is using ground teams, airplanes and NASA satellites and instruments to measure soil moisture in Tombstone, Ariz., and Sonora, Mexico, where water supplies are critical.

By identifying how much moisture is retained in soils, hydrologists will be able to determine how much more water can be absorbed, and thus better estimate the potential for flooding or how much water sinks into the water table.

During July and August, the U.S. southwestern monsoon season is characterized by a wind pattern shift that exerts a strong influence on precipitation and temperatures across the western United States, Mexico and adjacent ocean areas. This change in winds creates many rainy days and heavy rainfall, which are ideal conditions for studying soil moisture.

Researchers from NASA, USDA, NOAA, Sonora Research Institute and more than a dozen universities will be on the ground and in the air with advanced technology to get a better read on soil moisture.

SMEX scientists also want to know what atmospheric conditions create long-lasting rainfalls over a large area. By knowing which factors create large or small rainfall, hydrologists can provide better forecasts and know how much water will be available.

"The western U.S. relies on water from the southwestern monsoon system to fill its aquifers. Accurate measurements of soil moisture will assist in better water supply forecasts associated with the monsoon in the water-scarce western U.S.," said Tom Jackson, USDA Agricultural Research Service hydrologist and lead for SMEX.

From space, NASA's Aqua, Terra and QuikScat satellites provide various measurements. Aqua's Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer instrument measures soil moisture; Terra's Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer provides vegetation status; and Terra's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer measures the surface temperature.

The SeaWinds instrument on the QuikScat satellite observes the monsoon winds that bring in the moisture from the Pacific Ocean to the U.S. Southwest.

A Naval Research Laboratory P-3 aircraft that carries microwave radiometers is also participating. Meanwhile, ground instruments measure the temperature and percentage of moisture in soils from two to 40 inches deep. The satellite, airplane and ground data will be compared.

The SMEX04 mission adds to two prior SMEX experiments in 2002 and 2003, and is part of the larger North American Monsoon Experiment, led by NOAA, which is dedicated to understanding how the southwestern U.S. monsoon season works.

Monsoons need to be accurately understood and predicted by weather and climate models, because their influence on seasonal weather, including floods and droughts, can significantly disrupt regional economies and populations.

EARTH OBSERVATION

Aura Deployment Continues

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Aug 05, 2004
Activation of the Aura spacecraft, launched July 15, is continuing, with the mission going very well so far.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.