Hyperspectral

The Earth Resources Observation and Science Center-Imaging Spectroscopy Project (EROS-ISP): Paving the Way for Landsat’s Future

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The joint U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)--National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth observation Landsat mission began in July 1972 and surpassed its 50th anniversary in July 2022. The 50-year Landsat global data archive comprises eight independently developed NASA multispectral visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) observatories that have been or are currently operated by the USGS.

Spectral Remote Sensing of Biocrusts Using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

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Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are diverse communities of organisms including lichen, moss, and cyanobacteria that live on soil surfaces in dryland environments around the world. Although biocrusts are estimated to make up 12% of the planet’s terrestrial surface and play critical roles in water and carbon cycling, there is great uncertainty related to their distribution, function, and response to change.

Hyperspectral Imaging of Critical Mineral Resources from Outcrop to Satellite

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Mineral resources are essential to the national security and economic prosperity of the United States. The Nation’s heavy reliance on imports of critical minerals increases its vulnerability to events that disrupt the supply chain. Novel methods to characterize new mineral resources are required to meet expected national and global demands and an anticipated shift to a renewable energy economy. 

Tree Mortality Maps to Assess Fire Risk

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Tens of millions of trees reportedly died in California during the 2012–2016 drought, resulting in marked increases in heavy fuel loads on the landscape. In conjunction with warming temperature, drier conditions, and over a century of fire suppression, the accumulation of fuels can result in large fires that are beyond the predictive capacity of traditional fire behavior models. These extreme fires can cause an enormous amount of damage.

Mercury Remote Sensing in South San Francisco Bay to Track Management and Climate Impacts

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Mercury is a neurotoxin and environmental pollutant that endangers the health of humans and wildlife. When mercury flows into aquatic environments like San Francisco Bay (SFB), it can be converted by microorganisms to methylmercury (MeHg), which is the most poisonous of mercury compounds. MeHg bioaccumulates in aquatic food webs and can cause a wide range of impairments in fish, birds, and humans.

Mixed Conifer Vulnerability Assessments

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In recent decades, forests worldwide have experienced dramatic and often unexpected drought-related tree mortality events. California recently suffered its most extreme drought on record, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of trees. Beyond the immediate impact on forests, such mortality events substantially increase the risk of catastrophic fires, which have the potential to change entire landscapes overnight.

Multiscale Spectroscopy of Intertidal Biofilm Quantity, Quality, and Composition

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Microbial biofilm communities, which are comprised of bacteria, diatoms, protozoa, and fungi, inhabit the surface of intertidal mudflats. These communities represent a large proportion of shorebirds’ diets, so understanding biofilm distribution, quantity, and nutritional value supports efforts to manage shorebird populations.

Temporal Trends in Agricultural Water Use and the Relationships to Hydroclimatic Factors in the High Plains Aquifer Region

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The High Plains Aquifer (HPA) is the primary water source for irrigated agriculture in the Great Plains of the United States. However, water levels in many locations of the aquifer have declined steadily over the past several decades because the rate of water withdrawals exceeds the rate of aquifer recharge. The decline of the groundwater table has been a serious concern to farmers and local governments in the HPA region as crop production is heavily dependent on the groundwater source.

SWIR Bands for Crop Residue Detection on the Landsat Next Mission

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Non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) is plant material that has no photosynthetic function, such as dead biomass, surface litter, and woody stems. NPV serves an ecologically beneficial role; in the agricultural setting, maintaining crop residue on the soil surface reduces erosion, improves soil structure, maintains stable temperatures, and increases soil carbon, all of which support the health of farming systems.