Earth Observation and Remote Sensing
Advanced instruments and networks for monitoring Earth's atmosphere, land, and space environment from ground, airborne, and space-based platforms
Continue Exploring Goddard Science about Earth Observation and Remote Sensing
Airborne Earth Observation
| EcoSAR Instrument | Ecosystems Synthetic Aperture Radar (EcoSAR) is a NASA radar instrument being developed at Goddard Space Flight Center. It uses radio waves to create 2D and 3D detailed maps of forests and other ecosystems, measuring things like vegetation structure and biomass (the amount of living matter). |
G-LiGHT System | Goddard’s LiDAR, Hyperspectral and Thermal Imager (G-LiGHT) is a lightweight airborne imaging tool that can be carried on an aircraft to simultaneously map the composition, structure, and function of terrestrial ecosystems. |
| SLAP Instrument | The Scanning L-band Active/Passive (SLAP) instrument is mainly used to measure soil moisture and whether soil is frozen or thawed, but it is also capable of detecting salt levels in coastal waters. |
Atmospheric & Aerosol Monitoring
| AERONET Program | The AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) program measures particles and pollutants in the atmosphere and works with several partner networks to build a long-term, publicly available database that supports scientific research and satellite data verification. |
| Cloud Physics Lidar | The purpose of the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) is to provide multi-wavelength measurements of cirrus, subvisual cirrus, and aerosols with high temporal and spatial resolution. |
MPLNET Systems | The Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) measures aerosol and cloud vertical structure and boundary layer heights using a global network of MPL systems. |
Space Environment Monitoring
| End-to-end space weather capability | NASA Goddard Heliophysics Science Division (HSD) offers a full range of expertise and services to help assess and reduce space weather risks including data analysis, instrument and mission development, hazard assessments, and general consultation. |
