Articles

SHARE: Soil Moisture for Hydrometeorological Applications

Two maps showing The simple Pearson correlation coefficient between ASAR GM and AWRA-L soil moisture (left). AWRA-L is a landscape hydrology model that explicitly models soil surface moisture dynamics. The ASAR GM error (right) is estimated by propagating sensor error through the ASAR GM retrieval algorithm.The SHARE project demonstrates how data from medium resolution microwave instruments can be used to support flood monitoring efforts. The data can help determine the amount of runoff resulting from rain and support monitoring of inundated areas during a flood.

Doubková et al., posted on February 2nd, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation, Water Availability

EarthCube: Developing a Framework to Create and Manage Knowledge in the Geosciences

Image of EarthCube logo.EarthCube is a National Science Foundation effort to accelerate the convergence process, frame a system that is scaleable as ever more complexity is investigated, and transform to take advantage of emerging technologies.

Clifford A. Jacobs, posted on February 1st, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation, Technology

Application of Hydrological Models to Assess the Reliability of Water Resources

Photo of buildings reflected in a puddle. Photo Credit: Till WestermayerEnvironmentally sustainable management of land water resources requires designing operating systems to cope with, and preferably prosper, during present and future hydro-climatic variability. There are a number of adaptation strategies to counter the impact of climate change on the urban water supply.

Afzal and Carran, posted on January 30th, 2012
Articles, Water Availability

Micro-level Drought Vulnerability Assessment in Peddavagu basin, a Tributary of Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh, India

Map of Digital Elevation Model of Peddavagu basin, a tributary of Krishna River basinAssessing the micro-level spatial drought vulnerability in South Central India can assist with coping measures for farmers and others in the region. This study used various thematic maps to derive a village-level drought vulnerability map, which will be useful to drought management and preparedness in the future.

Sreedhar et al., posted on January 18th, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation, Water Availability

Remote Sensing of Alkaline-Saline Lakes: Applications to Flamingo Conservation

Image of arthrospira fusiformis, the dominant phyoplankton species in Lake Bogoria.The lesser flamingo of Kenya and Tanzania is a near-threatened species that feeds on bacterial biomass growing in the soda lakes of the Rift Valley. This interdisciplinary project investigates the connections between ecological and hydrological processes in alkaline-saline lakes, and demonstrates how satellite data can contribute to remote monitoring of ecosystems.

Tebbs et al., posted on January 11th, 2012
Articles, Biodiversity, Earth Observation, Water

A Post-GEO Plenary Workshop on Earth Observations for the Social Benefit of the Balkans

Photo of OBSERVE's post GEO workshopA report from a workshop held in Turkey by three 7th Framework Programme projects: OBSERVE, BALKANGEONET and EGIDA. This is the second in a series of articles on “Strengthening and development of Earth Observation activities for the environment in the Balkan area.”

Petros Patias, posted on January 10th, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation

An Introduction to OBSERVE, Strengthening and development of Earth Observation activities for the environment in the Balkan area

Observe logoThe aim of the OBSERVE project is to collect and compile all the necessary information for delivering an integrated analysis on the current status of Earth Observation activities and networks in the Balkans.

Petros Patias, posted on January 10th, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation

Water Availability in Reference to Water Needs in Poland: The Importance of Correct Estimation of Water Resources

Map showing average annual precipitation in Europe over the period of 1940-1995The improper selection of indicators of water resources can lead to inaccurate estimates of supply and may complicate the management of these vital resources. This paper discusses the benefits of using Earth observation technology in the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program for estimating water resources in Poland.

Ostojski et al., posted on January 9th, 2012
Articles, Water Availability

How to ‘Ignite’ Earth and Space Scientists

The Ignite AGU logo‘Ignite’ talks are fast-paced, geek events. Speakers prepare 20 slides, each shown for 15 seconds, giving each speaker 5 minutes of fame. This article offers key lessons learned from a recent Ignite session at the Fall American Geophysical Union (AGU) Meeting in San Francisco.

Erin Robinson, posted on January 5th, 2012
Articles, Technology

Groundwater Storage Estimates in the Central Valley Aquifer Using GRACE Data

Drawing of the GRACE satellite orbiting Earth.A project on the use of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data to estimate changes in groundwater storage in the Central Valley aquifer in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). This work has the potential to improve California’s groundwater resource management and the use of existing hydrologic models for the Central Valley.

Kuss et al., posted on January 1st, 2012
Articles, Earth Observation, Water Availability

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Panorama of the East Coast

Panorama of the East Coast

This Jan. 29 panorama of much of the East Coast, photographed by one of the Expedition 30 crew members aboard the International Space Station, provides a look generally northeastward: Philadelphia-New York City-Boston corridor (bottom-center); western Lake Ontario shoreline with Toronto (left edge); Montreal (near center). An optical illusion in the photo makes the atmospheric limb and light activity from Aurora Borealis appear "intertwined." Image Credit: NASA