David Toll1, Lawrence Friedl2, Jared Entin3,

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NASA WATER SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
David Toll1, Lawrence Friedl2, Jared
Entin3, and Edwin T. Engman4 1-Hydrological
Sciences NASA/GSFC 2- Applied Sciences Program,
NASA/HQ 3-TerrestrialHydrology Program NASA
Energy Water Cycle, NASA HQ 4- Hydrological
Sciences, NASA/GSFC/SAIC David.L.Toll_at_NASA.Gov 1
1 January 2007
Extending the societal and economic benefits of
Earth science research, information, and
technology
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OUTLINE
1) Organization Budget Charts 2) NASA Earth
Science - Climate Change on Water Resources 3)
NASA Water Science Missions 4) NASA
Applications 5) NASA Water Management
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Goddard Organization
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SCIENCES AND EXPLORATION DIRECTORATE
SED, Code 600 Director Dr. Laurie Leshin Deputy
Director John Dalton Deputy Director/Technical
Bernard Seery Chief Scientist Dr. James
Garvin Asst. Director for Technology Dr. Azita
Valinia Special Assistant to the Director Dr.
Anne Kinney
Operations Manager John Wolfgang Administrative
Officer Diane Booth Directorate
Secretaries Margie Ott Shawn Watts
Office of Science Engineering Code 601 Chief
Abigail Harper (Acting)

Office of Science Utilization Code 604 Chief
Dr. Shahid Habib
Higher Education Office Code 602 Chief Dr.
Vigdor Teplitz
Science Proposal Support Office Code 605 Chief
Dr. Anne Kinney (Acting)

Administration and Resources Management
Office Code 603 Chief Shanta Arur Deputy
Kelly Pecnick
Computational and Information Science and
Technology Office Code 606 Chief Phil
Webster Deputy Nancy Laubenthal

Earth Sciences Division Code 610 Director Dr.
Franco Einaudi Deputy Dr. Dorothy Zukor

Astrophysics Science Division, Code
660 Director Dr. Nicholas White Deputy Dr.
William Oegerle Assoc. for Science Dr. Kim
Weaver
Heliophysics Science Division Code
670 Director Dr. James Slavin Deputy Dr.
Thomas Moore
Solar System Exploration Division, Code
690 Director Dr. Richard Vondrak Deputy
Mitchell Brown Deputy for Planetary Science Dr.
David Smith
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EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION
Global Modeling Assimilation Office Code
610.1 Head Dr. Michele Rienecker
Earth Sciences Division, Code 610 Director Dr.
Franco Einaudi Deputy Dr. Dorothy
Zukor Assistant for Operations Jack
Richards Chief Scientist Dr. Mark
Schoeberl Chief Engineer Robert Connerton EOS
Project Scientist Dr. Michael King
Global Change Data Center Code 610.2 Chief
Steve Wharton
Software Integration Visualization Office Code
610.3 Head Michael Seablom
Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory
Code 614 Chief Dr. Peter Hildebrand
Laboratory for Atmospheres Code 613 Chief Dr.
William Lau
Goddard Institute for Space Studies Code
611 Chief Dr. James Hansen


Hydrological Sciences Branch Code 614.3 Dr.
Christa Peters-Lidard
Ocean Sciences Branch Code 614.2 Dr. David Adamec
Cryospheric Sciences Branch Code 614.1 Dr. Waleed
Abdalati
Climate and Radiation Branch Code 613.2 Dr.
Robert Cahalan
Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch Code
613.1 Dr. David Starr
Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics
Branch Code 613.3 Dr. Jose Rodriguez
Terrestrial Information Systems Branch Code
614.5 Edward Masuoka
Instrumentation Sciences Branch Code 614.6 Dr.
John Gerlach
Biospheric Sciences Branch Code 614.4 Dr. Jon
Ranson
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NASA HQ Science Mission Directorate
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NASA Science Program Budget Summary
83.0
Budget Authority in Millions
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The NASA Role in Earth Sciences Research
Applications

• Develop satellite Earth observation systems
• for Weather and Climate Research
• for 6 Science Focus Areas
• for Operational Transition (e.g. to NOAA)

• Utilization of satellite climate/Earth science
  data
• Develop highly accurate climate data records
• Develop and provide data analysis algorithms
• Provide access to climate data
• Improve modeling predictions

• Satellite data applications
• Provide Earth observations tuned to users needs
• Hand off data access to users
• Collect and provide unique data sets
• Applied Sciences Program to Spin-Off NASA
  products to benefit society

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Global Climate Forcing

• Climate Change Forcing in the Industrial Era
  (1850-2000)
• ? CO2 Is Largest Forcing
• ? Air Pollutants (O3, CH4, BC) Cause Large
  Forcing
• ? Aerosol Effects (direct on clouds) Most
  Uncertain
• Conclusion CO2 Largest Forcing, But Others
  Significant
• References
• ?Trends of measured climate forcing agents,
  Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci., 98, 14778, 2001.
• ?Efficacy of climate forcings, J. Geophys. Res.,
  in press, 2005.

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Changes in Precipitation
More Rain
Less Rain
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Precipitation Intensity Increases

• More days with precipitation
• More frequent and intense precipitation
• Precipitation increases are due to the strong
  events

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Snow Cover Reduced

• As temperatures increase
• More precipitation is rain
• Snow line moves up by 100m per deg C
• Snow onset is later
• Melt is earlier
• Snow cover reduced 1-2 days/yr since early 1970s
• Water storage in snow pack is reduced

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NASA Hydrology Related Missions
Global Precipitation Measurement
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NASAs Precipitation Missions
GPM Global Precipitation Measurement
TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission

• Global precipitation measurement with TRMM a
  great leap forward!
• 10 ? 85 GHz radiometers
• 13.6 GHz precipitation radar (FIRST!)

• Needed improvements
• - Longer record length
• - High latitude precipitation including snowfall
• - Better accuracy
• - Spatial-temporal sampling
• 3-hr revisit 4k horizontal resolution
• - Improved vertical resolution (250m)

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MODIS Measurements
(mm)
Columbia River Basin Washington Incorporating
MODIS land cover and snow cover into LIS land
surface models to improve model ability to
predict snow water equivalent for use in the
project areas with Bureau of Reclamation
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High Resolution Global to Local Modeling with the
Land Information System (LIS)
1 km
25 km
Objective A high performance, high resolution
(lt1 km) data integration system for local to
global land modeling data assimilation of
satellite and ancillary data. Applications
Water supply, demand forecasting.
Hydro-Energy, Irrigated Agriculture, Water
Quality, Mobility Assessment, etc. Short-term and
Long Term Predictions.
1km MODIS Leaf Area Index (LAI) data
http//lis.gsfc.nasa.gov
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NASA Mission Concepts





1FLORA hyperspectral sensor, 2GISMO, IceSAT,
InSAR radar/LIDAR altimeter/interferometric
SAR, 3GRACE microgravity sensor, 4WaTER swath
altimetry, 5Hydrosphere Mapper, OOLM swath
altimetry, 6CLPP passive/active microwave,
7Hydros MOSS passive/active microwave, 8WOWS
scatterometer, 9AIRS water vapor profiler
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Snow Liquid Water Equivalent
Snow Water Storage - National Snow Analyses (NSA)
11 of U.S. Annual Renewable Water Resources
(2478 km3) 59 of the total fresh water
withdrawal in U.S. (467 km3) 47 of the total
annual flow of the Mississippi River (580 km3)
Total Volume of Water Stored 274 km3
Economic benefits of snow Winter tourism (8)
Snowpack water storage (up to 348) Economic costs
of snow Snow removal (2), Effects of Road
closures (10), Flooding (4), Damage to Utilities
(2/event) Number are estimates of billions of
dollars per year
Preliminary information from The Value of Snow
and Snow Information Services Office of the
chief economist (NOAA, 2004) ..improved snow
information and services have potential benefits
greater than 1.3 billion annually.
investments that make only modest improvements
in snow information will have substantial
economic payoffs.
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ASSIMILATION OF SNOW SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS WITH
LAND SURFACE MODELING
IMS snow cover truth (top), 20 Jan 2003.
Improvement in modeled snow water equivalent when
MODIS snow cover is assimilated.
Model assimilation LIS/LDAS snow water
equivalent mm without (top) and with (bottom)
assimilated MODIS snow cover
MODIS seasonal snow cover animation
AND LEADS TO MORE ACCURATE PREDICTIONS.
Seasonal forecast model initialization JJA 1988
observed seasonal precipitation anomaly mm/day
(left) NSIPP model prediction without (center)
and with (right) LDAS initial soil moisture
Koster et al., 2003
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Snow Water Equivalent Measured by AMSR-E
21 February, 2003
Adjusted Baseline Algorithm Adjust Coefficient
Using Grain Size
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CLPP Science Objectives

• Primary To improve our ability to quantify snow
  water storage at multiple space/time scales
• 100 m land cover scale
• 5 km watershed scale
• sub-weekly
• Secondary Quantify changes in snow on ice sheets
  
• sea ice--especially in melt zones.

CLPP Mission Concept

• Dual Ku-band SAR (VV, VH)- 100 m Resolution
  (50/100 looks)- Incidence Angle 20o
• K/Ka-band Radiometer (V,H)- 7/4 km resolution
• Antenna- 1.95 m Pushbroom Reflector- 26
  Feedhorns

Narrow 40-km Swath Sun-synchronous orbit-613-km,
5-6 pm ascending
R.Kelly E. Kim
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NASAs Groundwater Measurement Mission GRACE
Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment
Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies in the
Mississippi River Basin, April 2002 December
2003
GRACE senses water storage changes as variations
in the Earths gravity field

• GRACE team
• U. of Texas
• JPL
• GSFC

Bars GRACE terrestrial water storage Dots
Atmospheric-terrestrial water balance Green line
terrestrial water storage from GLDAS models and
groundwater observations
Source M. Rodell/614.3
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HYDROSphere States Mission
What Soil Moisture and Freeze/Thaw
Why Weather Forecasting and Applications

• 3km L-Band Radar
• 40km L-Band Radiometer
• 1000 km Swath
• 1-3 Day Revisit
• 670 km, Sun-Synchronous
• Two Year Baseline Mission
• 2010 Launch

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NASAs Soil Moisture Remote Sensing
Broad science, high spatial resolution, higher
sensitivity (10 km)
Strong partnership with USDA
Improved global mapping (50 km)
Hydros
Soil Moisture Sensing Technology
SMOS
Limited global mapping, demonstrate feasibility
(50km)
AMSR
Large scale mapping and integrated hydrologic
research (1 km)
ESTAR
Ground and aircraft development verification of
theory (1 m)
Time Period

• 1970s

1980s
1990s
2000
Source P. ONeill/614.3 and T. Jackson/USDA/ARS
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Hydrologic Altimetry Streamflow and inundation
from space
Floodplain, delta, braded, and ice flow streams
are impossible to gage perhaps remote sensing
can help?
Surface Water Mission measure surface water
height, velocity, and extent
Potentially laser and/or radar altimetry
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Plans for Predictive Capabilities of Water Cycle
Variables
1- Accuracy Refers to Sea Level Pressure
Forecasts over Northern Hemisphere During Winter
Primary Goal to Provide Water Availability
Estimates with Short-term and Long term
Predictions in to Decision Support Tools
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NASA Water Science to Applications
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NASAs APPLIED SCIENCES PROGRAM 12 Applications
of National Priority
Public Health
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NASA APPLIED SCIENCES SOLUTION SPACE
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Water Management Program Functional Themes
ISS Projects
IRRIGATION WATER DELIVERY Three Water
Management projects are currently addressing
various aspects of improving ET estimates for use
in the BoR AWARDS-ET Toolbox and similar DSTs.
Focus on using MODIS data and LDAS/LIS estimates
of soil moisture.
FLOODS STREAMFLOW FORECASTING Three Water
Management projects - NOAA led examining improved
streamflow for River Forecast Centers. - Using
NASA satellite and modeling products for Seasonal
Forecast in W. US - NASA-NOAA-USGS Flash Flood
Project using NASA products and modeling.
DROUGHT Project assesses the potential for
AMSR-E, Quickscat/Sea Winds and MODIS satellite
products to improve the performance of
multi-agency US Drought Monitor. Also in support
of the National Integrated Drought Information
System (NIDIS).
WATER QUALITY Nonpoint source pollution project
to assess the impact of MODIS land data products
and impact of LIS precipitation and ET products
to improve the continuous hydrologic model, HSPF,
used in the EPA BASINS DST.
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I. FLOODS AND STREAMFLOW FORECASTING
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NASA - BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATER SUPPLY
FORECASTRiverWare Decision Support Tools
Aqua
(NASA)
(NOAA)
(BoR-USDA)
Regulating Reservoirs
D. Boyle/DRI
NASA LIS Modeling
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NASA-NOAA/NCEP Improved Weather Forecasting
Using NASA Satellite Products Land Information
System (LIS)
Currently Used by NOAA NCEP in Global Forecast
Climate Forecast Systems
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University of Washington Forecast
Systemhttp//www.hydro.washington.edu
Western US Seasonal Forecast System
o
O
ooo
At UW, started testing hydrologic uses of
real-time climate forecasts in 2000, for East
Coast Started producing water supply forecasts
in 2001 Started testing snow assimilation
techniques in 2003 Launched SW Monitor in
2005 NASA Water Mgmt Western US Seasonal
Forecast (2006-2008)
APR
MAY
JUN
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II. Water Supply and Irrigation Delivery
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(R. Allen, University of Idaho)
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III. Drought

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Portal for the National Integrated Drought
Information System (NIDIS)
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Drought Monitor Study by JPL/USGS/NOAA Using NASA
Products (Gheim and Verdin)
AMSR-E
AMSR-E monthly averaged soil moisture
(volumetric ) for August 2002 showing dry
conditions over western U.S..
QSCAT daily maps of surface water increase due to
precipitation (left panels), and USDM weekly
drought maps (right panels) showing changes in
drought conditions.
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IV. Water Quality

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NASA-EPA Study Using NASA Products for Nonpoint
Source Water Quality
BASINS-HSPF Precipitation Evapotranspiration
for Flow, Land Cover Disturbances Rain
Gauges not Representative of Precipitation
Events Satellite/Doppler Spatial Data
Compliments Gauge Data MODIS/Landsat/Hyperion
derived defoliation for estimating Nitrate
exports
Modeled Flow Estimations for NE Anacostia Basin
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FUNDING WEB SITES
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NASA NSPIRES ? NASA
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth
Sciences (ROSES) Feb. 2007 - http//nspires.nasa
prs.com/external
WEB SITES ? NASA Water Management Project Web
Site (New, Under Construction) -
http//wmp.gsfc.nasa.gov ? NASA Applied Sciences
Program - http//science.hq.nasa.gov/earth-sun/app
lications/ ? Global Precipitation Measurement
Mission (GPM) - http//gpm.gsfc.nasa.gov ?
Hydrosphere States Mission (Hydros) -
http//hydros.gsfc.nasa.gov ? Gravity Recovery
and Climate Experiment (GRACE) -
http//www.ess.uci.edu/famiglietti/grace
? Water Elevation Recovery (WatER) -
http//www.geology.ohio-state.edu/water ? Land
Data Assimilation Systems (LDAS) http//ldas.gsfc.
nasa.gov ? Land Information System
(LIS) http//lis.gsfc.nasa.gov ? NASA Water
Cycle http//watercycle.gsfc.nasa.gov