Year: 2017

The NOAA-20 (formerly JPSS-1) satellite has sent its first images since its recent launch, including a light image that maps water vapor. ESSIC associate research scientist Hu Yang prepared an article and image for the NOAA Environmental Visualization Center’s Image of the Day for Nov. 30 about the data. …

ESSIC assistant research scientist Prabhat Koner’s book chapter has been accepted for publication in “Advances in Sensors: Reviews, Vol. 5.” The chapter’s anticipated title is “Physical deterministic sea surface temperature retrieval suite for satellite infrared measurement.”…

Half of the world’s coral has died in the last 30 years, according to the documentary Chasing Coral, which the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science screened in Stamp Student Union in November. The film debuted on Netflix in July and follows a team determined to use time-lapse photography to document coral bleaching, a phenomenon which has plagued reefs worldwide in recent decades due to warming waters. When ocean temperatures in areas surrounding a reef increase by about 1 …

ESSIC senior faculty specialist Chunhui Pan helped prepare for the launch of the JPSS-1 satellite. With a team of colleagues she has developed a list of calibration and validation activities that are necessary for the satellite’s operational goals. They intend to include their work in with the Post-Launch Integrated Mission Times (IMT) activities scheduled for the first 90 days after the launch….

ESSIC assistant research scientist Alexey Mishonov is a co-author of a newly published article in Earth and Planetary Science Letters titled “Global assessment of benthic nepheloid layers and linkage with upper ocean dynamics.” Through examination of full-depth ocean profiles from five major field projects and 64 cruises, the authors demonstrate how lower ocean levels may affect ocean currents. The study included research of the benthic nepheloid layers — the ocean layers …

The Cooperative Institute for Climate & Satellites-Maryland (CICS-MD) hosted its fifth annual science meeting this month in College Park. The three-day event featured presentations and discussions regarding CICS research and science initiatives, with topics ranging from snowfall rates to lightning mapping.   Representatives from various CICS partner organizations also participated in the meeting and shared updates on their research and programming. Cooperative Remote …

ESSIC professor Ross Salawitch and University of Maryland (UMD) colleagues Tim Canty and Austin Hope contributed to the new Climate Science Special Report (CSSR), released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program on Nov. 3.  The report, which is the most comprehensive investigation of climate science to date, concludes that human activity is the likely cause of observed warming since the mid-20^th century.  The CSSR will also serve as the scientific foundation of the Fourth …

ESSIC Associate Research Scientist Can Li is the lead author of a newly published study in the journal Scientific Reports study titled, “India Is Overtaking China as the World’s Largest Emitter of Anthropogenic Sulfur Dioxide.” While both China and India are dependent on coal-based energy, the study finds that China’s sulfur dioxide emissions dropped significantly in the last decade while India’s did the opposite.  Co-authors of the collaborative piece …

UMD Geographical Sciences doctoral student Raúl Muñoz Castillo is the lead author of a recent article published  in Sustainability titled, “Uncovering the Green, Blue, and Grey Water Footprint and Virtual Water of Biofuel Production in Brazil: A Nexus Perspective."  The article evaluates the amount of water Brazil uses in different methods of biofuel production in order to recommend environmentally conscious practices. ESSIC interim director and professor, …