Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
The laser ranging interferometer (LRI) instrument has been successfully switched on aboard the recently launched twin U.S./German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites. The LRI, which is being flown as a technology demonstration, made its first measurements in parallel with GRACE-FO’s main microwave ranging instrument, and initial comparisons of the data from the
Tuesday, June 26th, 2018
Most visitors to protected natural areas hike on trails created with hardened treads designed to sustain traffic. However, heavy hiking traffic and use by mountain bikers, motorized vehicles and horseback riders all take their toll. Parks also are becoming more crowded, with long lines of trail users during the popular summer season. More visitors have
Sunday, June 17th, 2018
Ice losses from Antarctica have tripled since 2012, increasing global sea levels by 0.12 inches (3 millimeters) in that timeframe alone, according to a major new international climate assessment funded by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). According to the study, ice losses from Antarctica are causing sea levels to rise faster today than
Tuesday, June 12th, 2018
Portal Produtos Agropecuários Ltda in Brazil is using SimActive photogrammetry software in its precision agriculture efforts. Drone data are transformed into useful and pertinent information for farmers with Correlator3D, leading to optimized yields and reduced costs for the agricultural season. The identification of the presence and damage caused by centipedes was one such example. When
Tuesday, June 5th, 2018
Data from the first NASA satellite mission dedicated to measuring the water content of soils is now being used operationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to monitor global croplands and make commodity forecasts. The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission launched in 2015 and has helped map the amount of water in soils worldwide.
Tuesday, May 29th, 2018
A new NASA-led study shows that climate change is likely to intensify extreme weather events known as atmospheric rivers across most of the globe by the end of this century, while slightly reducing their number. The new study projects atmospheric rivers will be significantly longer and wider than the ones we observe today, leading to
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018
The Northern Sky Research (NSR) Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Services, 8th Edition report finds that despite a slow 2017 across the board, the global satellite manufacturing and launch market is poised to generate more than $250 billion in the next decade. As commercial and government players begin deploying constellations, turning to smallsats to provide more
Tuesday, May 15th, 2018
Eastern Siberia is home to the world’s deepest and most ancient freshwater ecosystem, Lake Baikal. This lake and its surrounding tributaries are one of the largest sources of pure drinking water in the world, containing some of the most diverse and unique organisms. Recent biological changes are causing a major shift in the composition of
Tuesday, May 8th, 2018
The agricultural industry is in the midst of a smart farming evolution, and the Internet of Things (IoT) era has the potential to dramatically improve farming practices. For example, CropX unveiled its latest soil intelligence platform, a combination of cloud-based Ag analytics software and advanced soil sensor technology. CropX delivers the soil intelligence farmers need
Tuesday, May 1st, 2018
In the high-stakes race against sea level rise, understanding what’s causing the Greenland Ice Sheet to melt is critical. The problem isn’t just rising temperatures: soot from ships, wildfires and distant power plants, as well as dust and a living carpet of microbes on the surface of the ice, are all speeding up the melting.
