Mission Statement
To utilize satellite and other remotely sensed data to explore and understand the linkages between water in all its forms, the land and life on Earth.
GSFC’s Hydrospheric and Biospheric research supports NASA and the nation with a world class workforce that conceive, develop and apply space-based technologies and observations to address issues of importance to society, including the effects of climate change on life on Earth. Particular research areas include studies of the Earth’s Land Ecosystems, Cryosphere, Land Surface Hydrology and Ocean Ecosystems.
PIG Ice Shelf Blog
The inside of the C-17 with passengers in various stages of suspended animation.
This project’s official title is "Ocean-Ice Interaction in the Amundsen Sea: the Keystone to Ice-Sheet Stability". A real mouthful, but it captures the essence of what we intend to do, where we will do it and why we feel it is important to do it. Various other measurements have captured the West Antarctic ice sheet changing very rapidly in the region where it flows into the Amundsen Sea, one of the sectors of the Southern Ocean. The spatial pattern strongly suggests that the cause of this change is weaker ice shelves, the floating apron of ice that fringe the perimeter of the ice sheet. Our hypothesis is that warm water is melting the undersides of these ice shelves decreasing the "back pressure" from the ice shelves to help hold the ice sheet. Less backpressure means the ice sheet can flow faster. Faster flow-smaller ice sheet-higher sea levels-slow motion coastal flooding worldwide.
Earth Science Seminar & Conference Information
Earth Sciences Seminar and Conference Information
Seminar Contact: Mike Jasinski
Greenland Summit Blog
This research is taking place at Summit Station, Greenland from November 2008 to mid-February 2009. Summit is an National Science Foundation (NSF) supported station on the Greenland Ice Sheet that houses around 40 scientist and staff in the summer months and 4 in the winter. The web address for the station, that includes a webcam link, is www.summitcamp.org. This station is located where the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core was taken.
Project Highlights
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NPOESS Preparatory Project
National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System visit site |
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Research areas:
Contact Us
Questions or Comments
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Public Affairs office at 1.301.286.8955
> PAO's Questions and Comments Page
Science Highlights
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Records Management
Records Management Information
