Spatial measurements support wildfire risk predictions
Researchers have demonstrated that data of the International Space Station’s Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) instrument has played an important role in the ability of machine learning algorithms to predict wildfire susceptibility. This result could help support the development of effective strategies to predict, prevent, monitor and manage wildfires.
As the frequency and severity of wildfires increase worldwide, experts need reliable fire susceptibility models to protect public safety and support natural resource planning and risk management. ECOSTRESS measures evapotranspiration, water use efficiency, and other plant-water dynamics on Earth. The researchers report that its data on water use efficiency consistently emerged as the leading factor in predicting wildfires, with data on evaporative stress and topographic slope also being significant.
Combination of instruments provides better emissions data
Scientists find that averaging data from the International Space Station’s OCO-3 and EMIT external instruments can accurately measure the rate of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. This work could improve emissions monitoring and help communities respond to climate change.
Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels account for almost a third of human-caused emissions and are a major contributor to climate change. However, in many places, scientists don’t know exactly how much carbon dioxide these sources emit. The Carbon Observatory in Orbit-3 or OCO-3 can quantify emissions over large areas and Investigation of mineral dust sources on the Earth’s surface the data can help determine emissions from individual facilities. The researchers suggest that future work continues to study the effect of wind conditions on the measurements.
Storm phenomena observed from space
Observations made by the International Space Station’s Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) instrument during a tropical cyclone in 2019 provide an overview of the formation and nature of blue corona discharges often seen at the tops of storm clouds. A better understanding of these processes in Earth’s upper atmosphere could improve atmospheric models and weather and climate forecasts.
Scientists do not fully understand the conditions that lead to the formation of blue corona discharges, bursts of electrical streamers, precursors to lightning. Observations from the ground are affected by scattering and absorption in clouds. ASIMan ESA (European Space Agency) facility, offers a unique opportunity to observe these upper atmosphere events from space.