The Capacity of NASA Airborne Campaign Data for the Study of Biological Diversity

Abstract:

In addition to space borne satellite data, NASA collects Earth observations through instruments housed in aircrafts that have been used on well over fifty campaigns since 1983. NASA airborne missions validate measurements from satellite instruments, serve as testbeds for new technologies and instruments, and allow pointed geographic and thematic focus on Earth system processes, supplementing the science objectives and impact of multiple satellite missions and Earth science programs. Despite the frequent use and application of NASA airborne campaign data, it has been underutilized to detect biological diversity and biological phenomena.

This poster reviews the limitations that have restricted the use of NASA airborne data for the study of biological diversity and biological phenomena. We reviewed the last 40 years of NASA’s airborne Earth science campaigns (instrumentation, geography, scientific scope) and surveyed the ecological community currently using NASA airborne data for their work. From this work we were able to identify common themes and potential for improvement. In this poster we highlight:

• The potential linkages of airborne data to detect, understand, and forecast biological diversity
• Key airborne datasets with high potential for the study of biological diversity and biological phenomena
• The key limitations to discovery as well as use of airborne data by ecologists
• Recommendations for increasing the use of NASA airborne data by all users