Background: high spatial resolution (10 S of meters) visible/near infrared (VNIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) data are vital for the continued scientific study of numerous processes from volcanic and…

This is a $556,759.39 grant awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education to continue the Automated Repeat Imaging Experiment (ARIE) program. The ARIE utilizes NASA's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor to rapidly acquire high-resolution visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared data of dynamic events like volcanic eruptions and wildfires. The program streamlines the process of scheduling, acquiring, downloading, and processing ASTER data to provide images every 2-3 days on average. This grant will allow the University of Pittsburgh to further expand and enhance the ARIE program, including integrating data from additional sensors like the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The award does not have a set-aside designation. This work supports NASA's Earth Science program and complements other federal agency efforts to monitor and analyze natural hazards.

Background: high spatial resolution (10 S of meters) visible/near infrared (VNIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) data are vital for the continued scientific study of numerous processes from volcanic and wildfire forecasting to analysis of land use change over time. However, these data are never captured at a temporal frequency required to study trends in dynamic systems nor make predictions about future activity. Current sensors commonly acquire isolated snapshots, with no context into the ongoing event. These data, however, do provide unique information at much finer scales on the process itself (e.g., low-level volcanic emissions and thermal precursors). The PI and core science team have utilized funding from past NASA roses program elements to develop, test, improve and expand the aster urgent request protocol (URP) program. At its core, the URP streamlines and automates the aster rapid response approach of scheduling, acquiring, downloading and processing aster data of disasters and significant events. Utilizing high temporal resolution data from sensors such as avhrr and modis as rapid detection triggers, the URP improves aster acquisition times from 16 days to as little 3 days (and 1 day at higher latitudes). The URP program has been a success for aster providing over 2500 new images (a new image on average every 2-3 days) of volcano and fire events during its 13 year lifetime. Until such time as future sensors are launched that have vastly improved TIR resolution, the URP sensor web approach remains the only option for acquiring similar data of dynamic events. Objectives: despite the success of the URP program, IT has likely reached the current limit of monthly aster observations due to programmatic and systematic constraints. Furthermore, IT is only able to be activated by events that produce a thermal trigger. We will propose to augment and expand the URP program for aster, removing the current constraints, and adding several new and important elements. In addition, we foresee two systematic science tasks made possible for the first time by the existing large URP archive of volcanic data. This analysis will address the following top-level science goals: (1) determine the quantitative flux of sulfur species and silicate aerosols from low-level, point-source emitters and assess their impact; and (2) quantify the small-scale thermal precursory activity as a means of improved future eruption forecasting. Furthermore, we will propose to continue our E/PO activity begun six years ago, called the PH.D. In residence program, which allows a unique travel and education experience for the funded graduate student. Relevance: the proposed effort will continue a long-running, unique data record for aster, which is enabled by other EOS and non-NASA sensors. These data are not only critical for continued imaging of future natural disasters but also provide an archive important in two specific areas: science as well as trade studies for future sensors planned with more rapid revisit times. The proposed improvements will also allow US to integrate triggering data from new sensors (e.g., viirs fire product) and existing ground-based networks (e.g., seismic monitoring of earthquake-prone regions, thermal monitoring of low-temperature systems, etc.). The proposal will focus on these program element areas: science data analysis / multi-platform and sensor data fusion and real- or near-real- time data algorithms. In doing, we expect to quantify change at many of the world S active volcanoes over time, thus improving upon the value and capabilities of the existing URP product. Finally, the near-real time aspect of the URP program provides unique application data that is currently used in several operational programs. The proposal will seek to continue the appointment of the PI and CO-I S to the aster and modis science teams. The PI will request appointment to the new land measurement team specified in this call as well.