NASA Prepares New Airborne Campaigns for Earth Observation
This summer the first of six new airborne campaigns NASA is launching will take to the skies to conduct scientific measurement flights over Earth. The missions are part of a series of Earth observation projects designed to gather data on the atmosphere, land surface and oceans. Each campaign uses specially modified aircraft carrying instruments that cannot be reached by ground sensors.
The aircraft take off from various bases across the United States and fly over selected target areas including coastal regions, forests and Arctic zones. During the flights measurements of trace gases, aerosols, temperature and humidity are made. The collected data complement existing satellite observations and help refine climate change models.
According to NASA the campaigns will not only improve scientific understanding but also test new technologies for future space missions such as laser scanners and hyperspectral cameras that could later fly on satellites. Cooperation with international research partners and universities is another key element of the program.
- Instrument A measures CO2 concentrations in the troposphere
- Instrument B maps vegetation health using NDVI
- Instrument C monitors ice cover in polar regions
The first flights begin in June and run through the end of September. After data collection ends an analysis phase follows during which results are released in open data portals for scientists worldwide to use in their own studies.