Applications

In 2007 The National Research Council Earth Science Decadal Survey, Earth Science Applications from Space, recommended a five-year integrated L-band InSAR and multibeam Lidar mission called DESDynI (Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of Ice) be launched in the 2010–2013 timeframe. The mission will measure surface deformation for solid Earth and cryosphere objectives and vegetation structure for understanding the ecosystem structure and carbon cycle.

Because there are numerous applications that DESDynI can address NASA convened a workshop in October 2008 to address to discuss these applications and related data products. Identified applications include monitoring of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, ground subsidence, floods, glacier surges and ices sheet/shelf collapse, wildfires, hurricane/cyclone damager, riparian vegetation for fish habitats, wind events, oil spills, beetle infestations, and surface deformation associated with subsurface reservoirs and CO2 sequestration. In certain configuration DESDynI could also address soil moisture, fire extent, coastal oceans, and ocean currents. The primary objective of the workshop was to further develop the applications goals and objectives, and traceability to needed observations and measurements.

The report from this workshop is now available for comment.

Read the DESDynI Applications Workshop Report (PDF, 2.29 MB).