ECOSTRESS

ECOSTRESS (Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station) is an ongoing scientific experiment in which a radiometer mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) measures the temperature of plants growing in specific locations on Earth over the course of a solar year. These measurements give scientists insight into the effects of events like heat waves and droughts on crops.

More specifically, ECOSTRESS seeks to answer three questions:

  1. How is the terrestrial biosphere responding to changes in water availability?
  2. How do changes in the water stress experienced by diurnal vegetation impact the global carbon cycle?
  3. Can agricultural vulnerability be reduced through advanced monitoring of the consumptive use of water for agriculture, and by improved estimation of the severity of droughts?

ECOSTRESS data has many other uses, such as comparing the temperatures of man-made surfaces (such as paved roads) and natural surfaces (such as prairie land) over time.

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