Earth Sciences Remote Sensing Lab
Earth Sciences Remote Sensing Lab |
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Scientists of the ESRS apply an interdisciplinary research approach that takes advantage of the available tools and disciplines (e.g., remote sensing, GIS, geochemistry, geochronology, hydrology, surface runoff and groundwater flow modeling, field geology, etc.) to address a wide range of complex geological and environmental problems. A comprehensive understanding of Earth systems sciences requires substantial integration among scientific disciplines in terms of concepts, understanding, skills, and problem-solving techniques. The scale of existing global geologic data sets, their extremely uneven documentation, and the relative scarcity of user-friendly access tools are major obstacles in interdisciplinary research. Geoinformatics is providing new approaches for geoscientists to address this emerging challenge and is unleashing new tools for scientific investigation and education. Specifically, the new approaches entail the application of GIS technologies on a global scale, to spatial-temporal integration; visualization; and analysis of geochemical, geophysical, remote sensing, and geodetic data sets. We are working to expand our expertise in the general area of geoinformatics and are applying the acquired experience to address environmental and tectonic problems of interest. Ongoing projects address the potential influences of natural processes, global change, and regional human activities on the water and carbon cycles and ecosystems. For example, we are developing and applying an integrated systems approach to assess, monitor, and model the recent and future impacts of changes in the landscape and land cover associated with the major agricultural development projects in Saharan Africa. We are studying the available renewable groundwater resources in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the Sinai peninsula, and the Quetta Valley, Pakistan. We use hydrologic, remote sensing and isotopic techniques to identify the various sources of groundwater, and to discriminate between paleo and modern recharge.
We (WMU and EMRA) have been funded by the NSF to develop a web-based database for Egypt's geologic data sets, with state-of-the-art capability for information dissemination and data manipulation to enhance effective interdisciplinary research in Egypt by national and international scientists. NSF is also funding us (WMU, KISR, and the University of Tikrit) to develop a database for visualizing geoscientific data for the Tigris and Euphrates River's watershed. The application of web-based GIS technologies is especially advantageous in developing countries, where obtaining basic data sets that are relevant to geologic applications is often cost prohibitive. The Egyptian GIS database and the Mesopotamian Marshlands GIS will serve as examples for similar applications in other developing countries. A similar study funded by the NSF for studying and visualizing Tethyan plate collisions has recently been completed.
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We are actively developing our research capabilities and
expertise in the area of aquatic remote sensing, specifically in
Projects that were recently
conducted include evaluation of the water quality and potential pollution
sources for 
