NASA Studies How Arctic Fires Change the World

August 20, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

Wildfires in the Arctic often burn far away from population centers, but their impacts are felt around the globe. From field and laboratory work to airborne campaigns and satellites, NASA is studying how climate change is contributing to more frequent and powerful boreal forest and Arctic fires and what that means for climate forecasting, ecosystems and human health.

Through Smoke and Fire, NASA Searches for Answers

July 15, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

For years, NASA has used the vantage point of space, combined with airborne and ground-based field campaigns, to decipher the impact of fires—from first spark to final puff of smoldering smoke— and help other agencies protect life and property.

But the effects of fires linger long after they’re extinguished: They can upend ecosystems, influence climate and disrupt communities. While NASA keeps an eye on today’s fires, it also tackles the big-picture questions that help fire managers plan for the future.

This summer, NASA is embarking on several field campaigns across the world to investigate longstanding questions surrounding fire and smoke. Aircraft will fly through smoke and clouds to improve air quality, weather and climate forecasting, and investigate fire-burned forests to capture ecosystem changes that have global impact.

Music: Motion Blur by Sam Dodson, End of the Quarter by Austin Jordan
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/LK Ward

Using NASA Data to Monitor Drought and Food Insecurity

July 9, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

NASA’s satellite imagery and model forecasts play an important role in monitoring the performance of crops worldwide and preparing for food shortages. NASA’s view from space helps government agencies forecast food insecurity, like during the drought in Southern Africa in 2018.

Music credit: Anticipating Outcomes by Simon Begg [PRS]
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Kathryn Mersmann (USRA): Lead Producer
Maria-Jose Vinas Garcia (Telophase): Lead Writer
Ellen T. Gray (ADNET): Producer
Trent L. Schindler (USRA): Lead Visualizer
Christa Peters-Lidard (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
John D. Bolten (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Amy McNally (SAIC): Scientist