GLOBAL MONITORING WITH ISS-EARTHKAM: A NEW SYSTEM FOR OBSERVING ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOMORPHIC FEATURES

ISS-EarthKAM is a digital optical system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that is able to take Earth-observation images of surface processes in near-real time. Originally this program was designed for educational outreach activities for middle schools. Recently, ISS-EarthKAM has observed environmental, geomorphic, and land-use/land-cover change processes for scientists studying earth system science. An example of such change-detection monitoring have been of Mediterranean Islands that are important for issues of anthropogenic activities, climate change, and island biogeographic effects. Regular monitoring of oceanic islands has allowed researchers to monitor selected islands index study sites for changing aspects of slopes (Garvin, et. al., 2002). Therefore, by observing inter-annual variability, slope-aspects, and varying sun-angles, a more quantitative assessment of surface features can be ascertained (Soulakellis, et. al, 2003). This imagery has allowed researchers to focus on particular islands (i.e. Aegean Archipelago) for further geographic and geomorphic analysis pertaining to climate change. This type of study may act as a key example of utilizing readily available imagery derived from the ISS, for the researcher in science activities pertaining to global monitoring of the Earth’s biosphere. For further information regarding ISS-EarthKAM, please visit the URL: http://earthkam.ucsd.edu/

References:

Garvin, J., Mahmood, A., and Yates, J. "IKONOS Imaging of Small Oceanic Islands; Monitoring and Characterizing Sensitive Landscapes at Meter-scales." High Spatial Resolution Commercial Imagery Workshop. - U.S. Geological Survey National Center, Reston, VA. March 25-27, 2002.

Soulakellis, N., Yates, J., and Tataris, G. "Global Island Image-Maps (GIIM-2003): A set of digitally processed MODIS images." International Cartographic Association 2003 Conference. Durban, South Africa.