NASA Previews New Mission to Track Water in Earth's Soil

TL;DR

NASA's SMAP mission is set to provide high-resolution global measurements of soil moisture from space, improving weather predictions, climate change studies, and water-related hazard assessments.

Transcript

hello and welcome to nasa headquarters in washington dc i'm steve cole from the office of communications we're here today to tell you about the upcoming launch of nasa's fifth earth science mission in less than a year the soil moisture active passive mission or smap is set to launch from california three weeks from today smap is going to provide th... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 SMAP's mission objective is to improve knowledge about water, weather, climate change, and water-related hazards through accurate measurements of soil moisture from space.
• 🎟️ The mission aligns with the UN's focus on soil-related issues during the National Year of Soil.
• ☀️ SMAP will provide valuable data to researchers, early adopters, and decision-makers for various applications, including weather prediction, drought monitoring, and agriculture.
• 👻 The observatory's design, including a reflector and spinning antenna, allows for efficient data collection and sharing between the radar and radiometer instruments.
• 🏍️ SMAP data will contribute to understanding the carbon cycle, addressing the missing carbon problem, and improving models for climate change projections.
• 😒 The collaboration between NASA, early adopters, and other organizations will ensure the effective use of SMAP data for decision-making processes.
• 🚀 The timing of the SMAP launch complements other Earth science missions, such as GPM and OCO-2, resulting in a comprehensive understanding of Earth's systems.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is measuring soil moisture important for weather and climate predictions?

Soil moisture plays a crucial role in the water, energy, and carbon cycles, linking weather and climate systems. Understanding soil moisture helps improve weather predictions and climate change projections.

Q: What are the main applications of SMAP data?

SMAP data is critical for monitoring and predicting natural hazards, such as floods and droughts. It can assist in assessing agricultural drought and providing vital information for water resource management.

Q: How will SMAP data help in mitigating the effects of drought?

SMAP data will provide high-resolution soil moisture measurements, enhancing the accuracy of drought monitoring systems like the U.S. Drought Monitor. This information will help decision-makers respond to drought conditions more effectively.

Q: How long will SMAP remain in orbit?

The SMAP mission is designed for three years of science operation, but the observatory is expected to continue operating for many years beyond that, as there are no constraints on its lifespan.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The SMAP mission will focus on studying the water that moves through soil, providing valuable information for weather predictions, climate change studies, and water-related hazard assessments.

• SMAP will join 18 other operational missions studying Earth's systems, addressing climate change, sea levels, and fresh water resources.

• The mission launch is timely, as it aligns with the UN's National Year of Soil, and many countries have volunteered to support data collection and understanding.