♪♪
>> HELLO I'M SAMSON.
WELCOME TO 703 NASA ARMSTRONG
FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER IN
CALIFORNIA.
NASA ACCOMPLISHED REALLY BIG
THINGS.
SUCH AS SENDING HUMANS TO THE
MOON, PUTTING ROVERS ON MARS AND
LOOKING SOUGHT INTO THE DEEP
RECESSES OF THE UNIVERSE.
THERE'S ANOTHER BIG
ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT HITS CLOSE
TO HOME THAT'S THE EARTH
ORBITING SATELLITE.
SCIENTISTS USED SATELLITE TO
OBSERVE HOW OUR PLANET IS
CHANGING.
FIRES, OCEANS, FORESTS,
AGRICULTURE, EVEN THE AIR THAT
WE BREATHE.
SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR PLANET
IS WORKING AND THAT IS THE
PURPOSE OF NASA'S EARTH SCIENCE
FIELD CAMPAIGN.
UNDER NASA'S SUPPORT, SCIENTISTS
GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
THEIR SUBJECT MATTER, MAKING
OBSERVATION, TO UNLOCK NEW
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR WORLD
WORKS.
TODAY WE'RE GIVING YOU CAMPAIGNS
HEADED INTO FIELD THIS YEAR WITH
NASA AIRCRAFT IN TOE.
THESE MULTIYEAR FUNDED CAMPAIGNS
WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR POTENTIAL
TO NOT ONLY BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR WORLD
BUT ALSO TO PREDICT CHANGE.
THIS YEAR'S CLASS IS ALL
AMERICAN.
ALL THE CAMPAIGNS ARE BASED OUT
OF THE CONTINENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
LET'S PREVIEW THOSE FIVE
CAMPAIGNS.
STARTING FROM THE WEST COAST,
OUT OF NASA AMES AND SILICONE
VALLEY, OCEAN DYNAMICS
EXPERIMENTS OR S-MODE OFF THE
COAST OF SAN FRANCISCO, TO STUDY
HOW SWIRLING WATER FAIR WELL IN
HEAT BETWEEN OCEAN AND THE
ATMOSPHERE.
FROM KANSAS, DYNAMICS AND
CHEMISTRY OF THE STRATOSPHERE
WILL FLY HIGH WITH NASA'S ER-2
AIRCRAFT THAT CHANGES CHEMISTRY
INCLUDING THE OZONE.
FLYING OUT OF NEW ORLEANS AND
NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER,
NASA AIRCRAFT WILL JOIN
RESEARCHERS FOR THE DEL IT-X
MISSION IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
DELTA TO GET A BETTER HAND ON
WHY SOME PARTS OF THE DEL ARE --
DELTAS ARE DISAPPEARING.
IN VIRGINIA, NASA AIRCRAFT OVER
THE WEST ATLANTIC EXPERIMENT,
WILL MANEUVER TO IDENTIFY HOW
TINY PARTICLES INTERACT WITH
WEATHER AND CLIMATE.
LASTLY PART OF THE INVESTIGATION
OF MICROPHYSICS AND ATLANTA
COAST SNOWSTORMS OR IMPACTS, IN
THE EASTERN SHORE WILL FLY HEAD
ON INTO SNOWSTORMS TO
INVESTIGATE HOW THE MOST INTENSE
SNOWFALL IS FORMED IN ORDER TO
IMPROVE OBSERVATIONS FROM SPACE
AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE WEATHER
FORECASTS.
WITH WINTER UPON US, ACROSS
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IMPACT IS
PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE TO
START.
WELCOMING ON TO THE STAGE IS
LINDA WHO IS THE LEAD SCIENTISTS
FOR IMPACT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> WE'RE LOOKING THE CLOUDS.
COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT
THAT?
>> SURE, I'LL BE HAPPY TO.
AS YOU KNOW, SNOWSTORMS ARE
FAIRLY LARGE AND CLOUD SYSTEMS
WITH THEM SPAN HUNDRED BEES AND
HUNDREDS OF MILES.
WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THE
SNOWFALL WITHIN THESE LARGE
AREAS OF CLOUDS ARE NOT EVENLY
DISTRIBUTED.
THEY ARE OFTEN ORGANIZED IN
NARROW BANDS OF HIGH SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
INVESTIGATE IS THE PROCESSES
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BANDED
STRUCTURE AND HOW IT VARIES FROM
STORM TO STORM.
SYMPTOM STORMS DONE HAVE THE
BANDS AND OTHERS DO HAVE THEM.
WE ARE STUDYING THIS ON MULTIPLE
SCALES FROM THE LARGER SCALE
DOWN TO THE MICROPHYSICAL SCALE.
THE SCALE OF THE SNOW CRYSTALS
THEMSELVES.
THEY VARY A LOT.
THEY VARY IN SHAPE AND SIZE AND
AMOUNT AND SNOW CRYSTALS ARE ONE
OF THE FEE FEATURES -- KEY
FEATURES THAT WE ARE STUDYING.
>> YOU'RE THE FIRST CAMPAIGN UP
THIS YEAR.
YOU'RE HEADING OUT NEXT WEEK.
>> I'M HEADING OUT NEXT WEEK.
WE ARE THE FIRST CAMPAIGN TO
START.
ACTUALLY IN TWO DAYS I LEAVE FOR
WALLOP.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FLYING AN
AIRCRAFT THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING
LATER TODAY.
THE ER-2.
IT'S ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALL
THE INSTRUMENTS THAT I NEED FOR
MY CAMPAIGN.
THEY WILL BE FLYING ABOVE THE
SNOWSTORMS ALTITUDES OF
68,000 FEET.
IT WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH REMOTE
SENSING INSTRUMENTS SAME ON THE
SATELLITES.
RADARS AND RADIOMETERS.
BELOW THAT IN COORDINATION WITH
THE ER-2, WE WILL FLY THE P-3
AIRCRAFT.
IT GETS TO FLY IN THE SNOW
CLOUDS THEMSELVES.
KIND OF BUMPY SOMETIMES BECAUSE
IT'S VERY TURBULENT.
IT'S EQUIPPED WITH INSTRUMENTS
THAT MEASURE THE SNOW CRYSTALS
THAT I TALKED ABOUT AND ALSO
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE SNOW
CRYSTAL FORM.
SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
WE'LL HAVE A DROP ZONE AND
MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE AND
WIND.
>> THE POINT OF TWO AIRCRAFTS.
YOU NEED ONE GOING THROUGH THE
SNOW BANDS AND THE OTHER ONE
WILL BE --
>> ABOVE THE SNOW.
WE NEED THE COORDINATION TO HELP
US UNDERSTAND HOW ONE MEASURES
FROM SPACE.
ER-2 IS SIMULATING THE
SATELLITE.
WE TAKE MEASUREMENTS JUST LIKE A
SATELLITE WOULD.
WE MEASURE INSIDE THE SNOW BANDS
THEMSELVES SO WE CAN RELATE
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLOUDS TO
WHAT IS BEING SEEN ABOVE BY THE
SATELLITE.
>> COOL.
I THINK THAT ANYONE WHO'S LIVED
THROUGH SNOWY WINTER CAN
APPRECIATE ANY EFFORT TO IMPROVE
OUR SNOW FORECAST.
>> I KNOW.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO
THINK SNOWSTORMS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY ARE.
THE SNOW IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO
SEE AND SEE TREES COVERED WITH
SNOW.
WE ALL KNOW IT'S ALSO HAZARDOUS
ESPECIALLY WITH TRANSPORTATION
AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO
FORECAST THE AMOUNT OF SNOWFALL
AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY
VARIABLE IN THESE STORMS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT VERY WELL.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE THAT.
MEASUREMENTS WE MAKE IN IMPACTS
WILL HELP US IMPROVE THOSE
FORECASTS.
IT WILL HELP US IMPROVE HOW WE
MEASURE FROM SPACE SO THAT WE
CAN MONITOR IN STORMS ALL AROUND
THE WORLD.
>> WHAT'S THE MOTIVATING FACTOR
FOR YOU?
YOU'RE A BIG FAN OF THE WEATHER
I SEE.
>> I'M TOTALLY A BIG FAN OF
WEATHER.
I DO LOT OF ACTIVITIES IN ORDER
TO KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO RIDE
YOUR BIKE OR GO HIKING.
I NEED TO DO THAT.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
SCIENTISTS AND BE ABLE TO STUDY
THESE SNOWSTORMS AND LEARN THE
DETAILS OF THE INSIDE OF THE
STORMS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE
HERE.
>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH MY
COLLEAGUE CHELSEA, WHO WENT TO
VISIT YOUR TEAMMATES THERE AS
THEY PREPPED FOR THIS NEXT WEEK.
SHE'S GOING TO SHOW INSIDE OF
THE NASA AIRCRAFTS.
>> THANKS.
WE'RE HERE AT NASA WALLOP FLIGHT
FACILITY IN VIRGINIA.
AIRCRAFT BEHIND ME, THIS
AIRCRAFT WILL BE COLLECTING DATA
FROM THE SKIES AS EARLY AS NEXT
WEEK.
LET'S MEET UP WITH DEPUTY
PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR FOR THE
IMPACT MISSION DR. JOHN YORK WHO
WILL TELL US INNER -- MORE ABOUT
THE INSTRUMENTS ON BOARD.
LET'S GO.
OKAY WE'RE HERE INSIDE THE P3
AIRCRAFT WITH DR. JOHN YORK.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
>> GOOD.
>> THIS RESEARCH AIRCRAFT IS
TOTALLY OUTFITTED WITH A BUNCH
OF SCIENTIFIC GEAR.
>> IMPACT IS CLOUD PROBES OUT ON
THE WINGS OF THE P3.
THESE CLOUD PROBES IS OF ICE AND
SNOW PARTICLES.
WE USE THE IMAGES TO DETERMINE
THE SIZE, SHAPE AND OTHER
PROPERTIES OF THE PARTICLES.
THAT DATA IS TRANSMITTED INSIDE
THE AIRPLANE TO COMPUTERS WHERE
SCIENTISTS SIT AND MONITOR THE
DATA AND INSTRUMENT.
ANOTHER INSTRUMENT IS THE DROP
SON.
IT'S A 12-INCH TUBE KIND OF
SIMILAR TO THE TUBE IN A PAPER
TOWEL.
IT HAS SENSORS INSIDE AND A
SMALL PARACHUTE AT THE TOP.
WE HAVE AN INSTRUMENT BACK HERE
THAT ACTUALLY ACTS A LOT LIKE A
CANNON.
WE'LL SHOOT THESE DROP ZONES OUT
INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WHERE THEY
FALL THROUGH THE SKY ABOUT
25 MILES AN HOUR AND MEASURE
TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY AND WIND
SPEED.
ALL THIS DATA IS IMPORTANT FOR
DETERMINING THE STRUCTURE OF
SNOW BANDS.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE SNOWSTORMS ARE
PRETTY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.
HOW WILL THIS DATA HELP US
UNDERSTAND?
>> WE WILL COMBINE THE DATA FROM
BOTH THE ER-2 AND THE P3.
WHEN WE COMBINE THE DATA WE'LL
BE ABLE TO YOU'RE THE
MEASUREMENTS FROM SPACE
PRECIPITATION AND ALSO THE MODEL
PREDICTIONS OF SNOWFALL.
>> VERY COOL.
THANK YOU.
IT SEEMS LIKE OUR SCIENCE TEAMS
ARE READY.
OUR INSTRUMENT TEAMS ARE READY.
THERE'S ONE MORE PERSON WE HAVE
TO TALK TO BEFORE WE GET THIS
MISSION OFF THE GROUND.
THAT IS OUR NASA PILOT.
JOINING US HERE TODAY IS NASA
PILOT JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FLYING THROUGH
THESE SNOWSTORMS?
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO DIFFERENT
FLYING THROUGH THE SNOWSTORMS.
LIKE TO AVOID THINGS LIKE
TURBULENT, CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY
AND ICING.
WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE WORRY
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING AND THE HAIL
LIKE WE WOULD IN THE SUMMER.
THERE WILL BE TURBULENCE AND
WIND AND THERE WILL BE ICING
CONDITIONS.
GOOD NEWS, P3 AIRCRAFT WILL BE
FLYING HAS VERY ROBUST
ANTI-ICING AND DEICING SYSTEMS.
WE SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD IN BOTH
CASES.
JUST KEEP AN EYE OUT AND MAKE
SURE WE STAY OUT OF THE WORST
AREAS.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE FLYING
CONDITIONS, WHILE DIFFICULT
MAYBE OKAY FOR THE PILOT, WHAT
ABOUT THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD?
HOW WOULD IT FEEL TAKING THIS
FLIGHT COMPARE TO A COMMERCIAL
FLIGHT DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO
DIFFERENT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME AREAS WE
HAVE TO FLY IN THAT ARE MORE
TURBULENT IN A REGULAR FLIGHT.
OVERALL, IT SHOULD BE IN PRETTY
GOOD SHAPE JUST TO GET A GOOD
SEAT BELT AND NOT WALKING AROUND
AND THEY SHOULD BE OKAY.
>> I HAVE TO ASK, I'M CURIOUS,
THIS IS THE COOLEST JOB IN THE
WORLD.
>> IT IS A PRETTY COOL JOB.
IN GENERAL, MOST PEOPLE GET
THEIR BACKGROUND IN THE
MILITARY.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE FLY LOT OF
DIFFERENT AIRCRAFTS HERE AND
SOME OF THE OTHER CENTERS.
WE FLY IN CONDITIONS THAT MOST
PEOPLE AVOID.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT
HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND
KIND OF HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF
FLIGHT CONDITIONS AND YOU
USUALLY WILL FIND THAT IN
MILITARY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY.
FROM ALL OF US HERE AT WALLOP,
HAPPY FLYING AND BEST OF LUCK
DURING YOUR MISSION.
SAMSON, BACK TO YOU.
>> GREAT, THANKS SO MUCH
CHELSEA.
MOVING ON FROM EAST COAST
SNOWSTORMS TO INTENSE SUMMERTIME
STORMS THAT REACH THE
STRATOSPHERE IN THE MIDWEST.
JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS KEN
BAUMAN AT TEXAS A&M WHO'S ALSO
LEAD SCIENTIST OF THE SUMMER
STRATOSPHERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING,
WHILE MOST OF OUR WEATHER
HAPPENS IN THE -- DO YOU WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND ON
THAT AND HOW YOU PLAN ON
INVESTIGATING?
>> SURE.
AS YOU SAID, MOST OF THE EARTH'S
WEATHER HAPPENS IN THE LOWEST
LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH IS
THE TROPSHERE.
SOME STORMS ARE INTENSE ENOUGH
THAT THEY OVERSHOOT THE TOP OF
THE TROPSHERE INTO THE LOWER
STRATOSPHERE.
THEY CARRY WATER AND POLLUTANTS
AND PARTICLES AND THINGS INTO
THE STRATOSPHERE.
>> I'M GUESSING YOU NEED
SPECIALIZED AIRCRAFT TO GET THAT
HIGH UP?
>> YES.
JUST LIKE IMPACTS, WE'RE GOING
TO BE USING NASA ER-2, HIGH
ALTITUDE RESEARCH AIRCRAFT.
IT'S REALLY UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR
MAKING THE KIND OF MEASUREMENTS
THAT WE NEED TO DO.
UNLIKE IMPACTS, WHICH IS USING
REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS FOR
OUR PROJECT, THE ER-2 WILL BE
CARRYING 12 DIFFERENT
INSTRUMENTS TO MEASURE
ATMOSPHERIC GASES AND PARTICLES
AND METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS.
>> THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHY IS
THIS A PRESSING QUESTION?
>> THE STRATOSPHERE IS ACTUALLY
QUITE IMPORTANT FOR THE EARTH
CLIMATE AND IT CONTAINS THE
OZONE LAYER WHICH IS VULNERABLE
TO POLLUTANTS WHEN THEY GET UP
IN THE STRATOSPHERE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE STUDYING THE
SUMMERTIME STRATOSPHERE.
THERE ARE LOT OF THINGS WE DON'T
KNOW ABOUT THE COMPOSITION AND
THE RADIATION AND THE DYNAMICS
OF THE LOWER STRATOSPHERE.
THE MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE
UNDERSTAND HOW THE STRATOSPHERE
WORK NOW SO THAT AS THE CLIMATE
CHANGES AND THE COMPOSITION OF
THE ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES TO
CHANGE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PREDICT
AND BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE
STRATOSPHERE HEIGHT CHANGE IN
THE FUTURE.
>> LOT OF CAMPAIGNS, SCIENTISTS
HAVE SOME SORT OF IDEA WHAT WE
EXPECT TO FIND.
THERE'S A CASE WHERE IT'S A REAL
DISCOVERY MISSION.
YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT WILL
HAPPEN.
THIS IS VERY NOVEL RESULTS
COMING FORWARD.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST MISSION
THAT'S REALLY BEEN DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY TO LOOK AT THESE
OVERSHOOTING THUNDERSTORMS AND
WHAT THEY PUT IN THE LOWER
STRATOSPHERE.
WE'VE SEEN GLIMPSES OF THIS ON
PREVIOUS MISSIONS THAT HAPPEN TO
HIGH THROUGH THE STORMS.
WE EXPECT TO BE TARGETING THESE
ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS.
THEY HAPPEN OVER THE CENTRAL
U.S.
>> COOL.
YOU COULD HAVE PICKED ANYWHERE
IN THE ATMOSPHERE TO STUDY.
YOU'RE FOCUSED ON THIS AREA.
WHY IS THAT?
>> WE'RE DOING LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS RANGING FROM CHEMISTRY TO
SMALL SCALE DYNAMICS TO GLOBAL
SCALE DYNAMICS.
MY PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE
PROJECT IS REALLY AN ATMOSPHERE
TRANSPORT IN MIXING.
IF YOU STIRRED CREAM INTO A
COFFEE CUP AND YOU LOOKED AT THE
BEAUTIFUL PATTERNS THAT YOU GET
AS IT MIXES INTO THE COFFEE, THE
SAME THING ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN
THE ATMOSPHERE BUT IT SCALES A
MILLION TIMES LARGER.
THESE STORMS INJECT MATERIAL AND
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN HOW
THAT GETS MIXED AND DISTRIBUTED
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE GLOBE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, KEN.
>> THANKS.
>> WE'RE PRETTY LUCKY TODAY.
JOINING US ON THE HANGAR IS ONE
OF NASA'S PILOT.
DEAN, WHO WILL GIVE US INSIGHTS
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FLY IN THE
RAREFIED SPACE ON THE ER-2.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATORS AND
THE SCIENCE TEAMS ON SOME OF THE
CAMPAIGNS WE HAVE COMING UP AT
NASA, THE AIRCRAFT YOU SEE
BEHIND ME IS THE ER-2.
THAT BECOMES THE INSTRUMENT OF
CHOICE AS FAR AS PLATFORM THAT
CAN CARRY A LARGE PACKAGE OF
INSTRUMENTS FROM MULTIPLE TEAMS
BUT WANT TO LOOK THROUGH THE
ATMOSPHERE FROM THE TOP DOWN.
IT'S STILL THE HIGHEST MAN AIR
BREATHING AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD.
THERE'S FIVE OF US AT NASA THAT
FLY THIS AIRCRAFT BEHIND ME.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO
SUPPORT THIS IS TAKE THIS UP IN
A SINGLE SEAT COCKPIT WEARING
THIS UNIFORM THAT YOU SEE.
BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE CAN TAKE
THE PACKAGE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT
ARE ACTUALLY INSTALLED ON THE
AIRCRAFT BEHIND ME UP ABOVE
NEARLY ALL OF THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE AND LOOK DOWN THROUGH
IT, STUDYING WHAT YOU JUST HEARD
ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT WILL BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO EXECUTING IN
THE COMING MONTHS, THIS YEAR.
IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS AN
UNSTABLE AIRCRAFT.
SMALL COCKPIT.
BUT WE FLY UP SO HIGH, THERE'S
ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE AIR TO
KEEP ALL THE LIQUIDS IN OUR BODY
TOGETHER.
IF WE LOSE PRESSURIZATION, THEN
ALL THE LIQUIDS WOULD BOIL.
HENCE THE PILOT HAS TO WEAR THIS
PRESSURE SUIT.
WEARING A SPACESUIT HAS ITS OWN
SET OF CHALLENGES.
IT'S ACTUALLY WHY THE NASA
PILOTS ENJOY IT.
WE LOVE A CHALLENGE.
WE LOVE TO LEARN.
WE LOVE TO EXPLORE.
FEW OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE
SPACESUIT ITSELF THAT I'M
WEARING NOW I'M DRESSED AS IF
I'M READY TO CLIMB IN THE
AIRCRAFT.
AS WE START TO SUIT UP INTO
THIS, THE FIRST THING THAT THE
PILOT WILL NOTICE TYPICALLY YOU
START TO LOSE -- THEY TAKE ALL
YOUR SENSES AWAY.
YOU LOSE THE SENSE OF FEEL,
CAN'T REALLY FEEL ANYTHING WITH
THE BIG GLOVES ON HERE.
AS SOON AS I CLOSE THIS FACE
PLATE, I'M COMPLETED PRESSURIZED
INSIDE.
I HAVE LIMITED VICTIM.
--
VISIBILITY.D
I CAN'T SMELL ANYTHING OR HEAR
ANYBODY.
THAT BECOMES A CHALLENGE FOR
PEOPLE.
WE LOVE IT.
THIS IS LIKE ANOTHER SET OF
PAJAMAS TO ME.
WHAT I'LL SHOW YOU IS WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE AS WE INFLATE THE
SUIT, APPLY THE PRESSURE INTO IT
WHICH KEEPS EVERYTHING IN MY
BODY TOGETHER IN A HIGH
ALTITUDE, LOW PRESSURE
ENVIRONMENT.
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE
TRYING TO BE IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT, BE PUMPED UP A
SPACESUIT AND FLYING UNSTABLE
AIRCRAFT AT THE SAME TIME WHERE
WE'VE GOT TO PUT THESE SCIENCE
INSTRUMENTS RIGHT OVER THE POINT
WHERE THE SCIENCE TEAMS REALLY
WANT TO STUDY WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND HOW
IT BEHAVES.
IT'S A FASCINATING SCIENCE
PROJECT THAT WE'RE INTO HERE.
IT'S AN AMAZING ENVIRONMENT TO
BE IN.
THAT HIGH ALTITUDE, THERE'S
NOTHING LIKE GETTING UP THERE
WHERE YOU CAN LOOK OUT OVER THE
DISTANCE AND SEE THE EARTH AND
THAT DARK PURPLE TO BLACK SKY UP
THERE THAT WE DON'T SEE DOWN
HERE ON THE GROUND.
WE HAVE MOISTURE THAT'S
FILTERING THAT.
THAT'S AN ADVENTURE AND IT'S AN
AN AMAZING PRIVILEGE.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE SCIENCE
CAMPAIGNS, STUDYING THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE AND ITS BEHAVIOR.
I WILL SEAL UP THE FACE PLATE
AND WE'LL TURN THE OXYGEN ON AND
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THIS LOOKS
LIKE PRESSURIZED AND THEN I WILL
HAND IT BACK TO SAMSON.
TIME TO GET BLOWN UP.
OKAY, JUST LIKE SITTING DOWN IN
THE COCKPIT.
WE'LL INFLATE THE SUIT.
I GOT TO FIGHT AGAINST THE SUIT
TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT.
AS THIS INFLATE, I HAVE TO FIGHT
AGAINST IT.
I GOT TO PULL THE FACE PLATE
AROUND.
THIS IS THE CHALLENGE I
DESCRIBED.
WE LOVE IT.
IT'S A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO BE
IN.
IT'S AN AWESOME PRIVILEGE TO BE
INVOLVED IN THIS STUDY OF THE
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
SAMSON, BACK TO YOU.
>> THAT'S QUITE THE DEMO, DEAN.
WE'RE HEADED FROM THE TOP OF THE
ATMOSPHERE BACK DOWN TO THE
OCEAN BECAUSE WITH ME NOW IS TO¶
TOM, HI TOM.
CAN YOU TELL US LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT AND HOW YOU'RE
PLANNING ON STUDYING IT?
>> YES.
THE WORLD'S OCEANS ARE ABOUT A
THOUSAND TIMES WIDER THAN THEY
ARE DEEP.
IF YOU WERE TO ZOOM OUT AND LOOK
AT THE EARTH FROM OUTER SPACE,
THE OCEANS ARE LIKE A THIN SHEET
OF WATER COVERING THE EARTH.
ALMOST LIKE A SHEET OF PAPER
DRAPED OVER THE EARTH.
BECAUSE OF THIS, THE FLOW IN THE
OCEANS IS PRIMARILY HORIZONTAL,
LARGER SCALE.
THE OCEANS ARE TURBULENT AND
THEY ARE FULL OF EDDIES AT ALL
POSSIBLE SCALES FROM THE LARGEST
SCALE, THE SCALE OF THE OCEAN
GYRES DONE TO EDDIES THAT WILL
FIT ON THE TIP OF YOUR FINGER.
SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENS AS
WE MOVE FROM THE LARGER SCALE
DOWN TOWARDS SMALLER SCALES WHEN
THE WIDTH OF THE EDDIES IS
SIMILAR TO THE DEPTH OF THE
EDDIES.
YOU CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT
VERTICAL MOTIONS.
THIS CAN BE IMPORTANT OR THE
TRANSPORT OF THINGS LIKE HEAT
AND NUTRIENTS.
WE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE OCEAN
AND THE ATMOSPHERE AND TO LIFE
IN THE OCEAN.
>> WHEN YOU HEAD OUT THERE IN
APRIL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A
HUGE PRODUCTION.
YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE SOME OF THE
MOVING PARTS INVOLVED?
>> THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN
S-MODE.
WE'LL HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
AIRCRAFTS MAKING MEASUREMENTS
FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDES.
WE NEED TO MEASURE LOT OF THINGS
LIKE THE OCEAN CURRENTS, OCEAN
CHLOROPHYLL, OCEAN TEMPERATURE
AND HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE
OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERE.
WE'LL HAVE THREE AIRCRAFTS AT
NASA GULF STREAM AIRCRAFT AT
HIGH ALTITUDES, NASA KING AIR
B200 INTERMEDIATE ALTITUDE.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE A RESEARCH
VESSEL, OCEAN GRAPHIC RESEARCH
VESSEL.
>> LOT OF EFFORTS GOING ON HERE.
WHAT'S THE BIG PAY OFF.
WHY SUCH A BIG EFFORT TO PUT
THIS EXPERIMENT IN PLACE?
>> THE OCEANS CAN HOLD A HUGE
AMOUNT OF HEAT.
IF YOU TOOK JUST THE UPPER METER
OF THE OCEANS AND COOLED THAT
ONE METER OF WATER BY ONE DEGREE
AND PUT THAT HEAT IN THE
ATMOSPHERE, IT WOULD BE ENOUGH
HEAT TO HEAT THE WHOLE PLANETARY
ATMOSPHERE BY ONE DEGREE.
THE HEAT TRANSPORT TO AND AWAY
FROM THE OCEAN SURFACE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> IN TERMS OF THE CLIMATE
IMPACT, I CAN SEE THAT.
IT WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD
WITH THOSE KIND OF MODELING.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WHY
INTERESTED IN PHYSICAL
OCEANOGRAPHY?
PEOPLE THAT STUDY DOLPHINS,
FISHES, WHAT INTEREST YOU ABOUT
THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF THE OCEAN?
>> I ALWAYS ENJOYED LEARNING HOW
THINGS WORK AND I STUDIED
PHYSICS IN COLLEGE AND THAT WAS
WHEN I LEARNED THERE WAS SUCH A
THING AS OCEAN PHYSICS AND I
BECAME A PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHER.
IT'S BEEN SO FUN AND
INTERESTING.
I'VE GOTTEN TO GO ON OCEAN
VOYAGES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND
TO WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
IT'S BEEN REALLY A GREAT CAREER.
>> SOUND LIKE FUN.
YOU CAN GO TO THE OCEAN RIGHT
NOW AND SEE THOSE INSTRUMENTS IN
ACTION.
WE CAN DO THE NEXT BEST THING.
OUR COLLEAGUES, BROUGHT A WAVE
GLIDER, AUTONOMOUS PLATFORM INTO
THE HANGAR.
YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT NOW?
>> LET'S DO THAT.
>> AWESOME.
>> THE SLIDER IS GOING TO BE ON
THE RV OCEANAS.
>> YES.
THE RESEARCH VESSEL WILL GO FROM
NEW PORT, OREGON TO THE REGION
OFFSHORE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO DAYS FOR
THE SHIP TO GET THERE.
>> WOW.
YOU ARE KIND OF MANNING THESE
WAVE GLIDERS.
THERE'S SEVERAL OF THEM.
THEY'LL BE UNDER YOUR CARE.
>> YES.
I WILL BE DRIVING THEM AROUND
AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER
SO --
>> LOOKS LIKE A VERY LARGE
SURFBOARD.
LOT OF COMPLEX PARTS.
I IMAGINE CRUISING ON THE
SURFACE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
DO YOU WANT TO POINT OUT SOME OF
THE MEASUREMENTS IT'S MAKING?
>> SURE.
WE WILL MAKE MEASUREMENT BOTH IN
THE AIR AND IN THE WATER.
FOR EXAMPLE, THESE SENSORS IS A
WEATHER STATION.
IT'S GOING TO MEASURE THE WIND,
SPEED, WIND DIRECTION, ALTITUDE,
HUMIDITY, ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE,
RAIN.
ANOTHER COOL INSTRUMENT IS THE
3D, WHICH WILL MEASURE THE
STRUCTURE OF THE AIR FLOW OF THE
WAVES.
IN THE AIR, WE ALSO HAVE THE
BUNCH OF DPS, WHICH GIVE US
POSITION OF THE -- IT'S MOTION.
FROM ITS MOTION, WE ARE ABOUT
RETRIEVE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTIC
OF THE WAVE FIELD.
THEN WE HAVE SYMBOL OF
INSTRUMENTS.
IN THE WATER, THIS INSTRUMENT
ALLOW US TO MEASURE THE
TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER.
ALONG THAT, WE ALSO HAVE CURRENT
SPEED AND DIRECTION.
>> LOT OF CAPABILITY FOR ONE
PLATFORM.
LOOKING AT THE TOP, ALL OF THIS
LOOKS LIKE SOLAR PANELS.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS THING
MOVES.
I SEE FINS AND I SEE OTHER
THING.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE COOL THINGS
ABOUT THE WAVE LADDER.
IT USES THE WAVES AS A MEANS.
TO GIVE YOU THE PRINCIPLE OF THE
OPERATION IS REALLY SIMPLE.
BOTH OF THEM MOVE UP AND DOWN
INTO THE ACTION OF THE WAVE.
THIS PHYSICAL MOTION IS IN A
HORIZONTAL MOTION.
>> THIS IS CONTROLLED BY REMOTE
CONTROL?
>> EXACTLY.
SO WE KNOW ITS POSITION AND THE
COOL THING ABOUT IT WE DO SOME
REALTIME PROCESSING.
WE SEND THEM BACK TO SHORE EVERY
15 MINUTES AND SO WE KNOW THE
CONDITIONS THEY ARE FACING AND
WE CAN ADJUST OPERATION.
>> THAT'S PRETTY HIGH-TECH.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
TOM, THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY
INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
IN USE ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
WHAT IS A PERSONAL NICHE ABOUT
THIS WAVE GLIDER?
>> WELL, THE WAVE GLIDER, REALLY
THE OTHER ROBOTIC PLATFORMS IN
THE OCEAN, WILL BE GIVING US FEW
OF THE 3D STRUCTURE OF THE
OCEAN.
WE'RE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN
THE FLOW OF WATER SO THESE WILL
GIVE US A 3D VIEW OF THAT WATER
AND HOW EDDIES ARE SWIRLING AND
THE CURRENTS ARE COMING
TOGETHER, LEADING TO VERTICAL
MOTION IN THE OCEAN.
>> THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.
WE'RE WORKING COMBINATION WITH
THE AIRCRAFT TO GET MEASUREMENTS
ABOVE, BELOW, VERY 4D LOOK AT
WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE AIRCRAFT WILL GIVE US A
GREAT SPATIAL PICTURE.
THEY ARE SEEING JUST SURFACE OF
THE OCEAN.
>> GOOD LUCK WITH THE WAVE
GLIDER.
GOOD LUCK WITH BEING ON THAT
SHIP.
TOM, GOOD LUCK WITH THE ENTIRE
CAMPAIGN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE'RE MOVING ON WITH MY
COLLEAGUE.
HE'S ACTUALLY AT LANGLEY.
HE'S TALKING WITH SOME OF THE
TEAM MEMBERS FOR OUR NEXT FIELD
CAMPAIGN.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT, IT'S CALLED
THE ACTIVATE MISSION.
IT'S AERSOL METEOROLOGY
INTERACTION.
>> I'M AT THE HANGAR HERE AT
NASA'S LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER
IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.
IT'S WHERE WE KEEP OUR FLEET OF
RESEARCH AIRCRAFT WILL BE
HOME-BASE FOR SCIENCE AND CREW.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY LUKE, HE IS
THE INSTRUMENT SCIENCE HERE AT
LANGLEY FOR ACTIVATE.
BEHIND US YOU CAN SEE THE FALCON
AND KING AIR AIRCRAFT.
THEY WILL BE USING.
WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE FALCON,
I HAVE ALL THESE CRAZY PROBES
STICKING OUT THE TOP.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?
WHAT DO THEY DO?
>> FOR ACTIVATE, WE'RE MAKING
LOTS OF DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS
SO WE NEED LOTS OF DIFFERENT
PROBES AND INSTRUMENTS.
IF WE LOOK AT THE CROWN OF THE
AIRCRAFT, ON THE LEFT SIDE, IS A
GAS INLET THAT WE USE TO BRING
IN AIR AND MEASURE THE
CONCENTRATIONS OF THE CO2 AND
METHANE.
NEXT IS AERSOL INLET THAT WE
MEASURE THE PROPERTIES AND THE
PARTICLES IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
NEXT OVER IS WHAT WE CALL CDI OR
COUNTER FLOW IMPACTER.
WE LOOK AT DROPLETS IN THE
PROBE.
WE EVAPORATE THOSE DROPLETS AND
LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION.
LASTLY WE HAVE A CLOUD WATER,
WHICH BRINGS THEM IN THE
AIRCRAFT AND WE COLLECT WATER
SAMPLES THAT WE TAKE BACK IN THE
LABORATORY.
>> WE HAVE SOME INSTRUMENTS ON
THE WINGS HERE AS WELL.
TELL US WHAT THOSE DO.
>> WING PROBES MEASURE THE CLOUD
PROPERTY.
ON THE RIGHT WING, WE HAVE A
CLOUD AERSOL PRECIPITATION.
>> WE'RE GETTING ON TO THE
FALCON HERE.
I CAN SEE THAT IT'S PRETTY
CROWDED.
YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING ON
HERE YET.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE.
>> WE'RE CURRENTLY INTEGRATING
THE FALCON.
WE'RE PUTTING OUR INSTRUMENTS
ON.
WE HAVE THREE RACK ON THE PLANE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE MORE.
ESSENTIALLY RIGHT WHERE WE ARE.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE ON
THE PLANE.
>> DURING FLIGHTS WE'LL HAVE TWO
PILOTS UP FRONT.
WE'LL HAVE TWO SCIENTIFIC
OPERATORS THAT WILL MONITOR THE
INSTRUMENTS.
>> WHAT IS A FALCON DO?
>> WE'RE BASED OUT OF HAMPTON.
WE'LL BE FLYING OUT OVER THE
OCEAN SO WE CAN DO LOCAL FLIGHTS
OR WE CAN GO TO BERMUDA AND BACK
OR TARGET DIFFERENT
ENVIRONMENTS.
OUR FLIGHTS ARE ABOUT FOUR HOURS
IN DURATION.
WE FLY FROM ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE
THE WATER SURFACE UP TO ABOUT
5000 FEET.
>> YOU'RE DOING THAT, THE KING
AIR IS GOING TO BE FLYING TOO.
TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THE KING
AIR IS GOING TO BE DOING?
THE UNIQUENESS OF ACTIVATED THAT
WE HAVE COORDINATED BETWEEN TWO
AIRCRAFT.
WE'RE FLYING OWE, THE KING AIR
ISFULLYING UP TO 9 KILOMETERS
LOOKING DOWN ON THE SCENE WITH
REMOTE SENSORS.
>> YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A DROP SON
HERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT HERE?
>> IT HAS A PARACHUTE ON ONE END
AND SENSORS ON THE OTHER.
WE USE A LAWN CHAIR FROM THE
AIRCRAFT. IT DROPS IT ABOUT
11 FEET PER SECOND.
>> YOU HAVE TWO OTHER
INSTRUMENTS ON THE KING AIR.
WHAT ARE THEY?
>> RESEARCH SCANNING AND HSRL.
THOSE TWO INSTRUMENTS ALLOW US
TO RETRIEVE THE PROPERTIES WE'RE
MEASURING.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THEM TO SHOW
YOU HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE
LAB TO SEE THE HSRL.
>> THIS IS OUR INSTRUMENT HOW
IT'S CONFIGURED ON THE AIRCRAFT.
WE SEND DIFFERENT COLORS PULSES
OF LASER LIGHT OUT INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE FROM THE BOTTOM HALF
OF THE INSTRUMENT.
LASER PULSES GO INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE.
WE COLLECT THAT SCATTERED LIGHT
ENERGY FROM THE ATMOSPHERE WITH
OUR TELESCOPE.
DIRECT THAT LIGHT INTO THE
VARIOUS DIRECTORS IN THE
INSTRUMENT HEAD.
I CAN LOOK AT THE SIGNALS COMING
FROM ALL THE DETECTORS GETTING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AERSOLS IN
THE CLOUD.
YOU HEARD ABOUT THE DETAILED
MEASUREMENTS THAT THE FALCON IS
TAKING.
WE'RE FLYING UP HIGH AND WE'RE
MEASURING A REMOTE SENSORS.
WE'RE MEASURING FROM THE
AIRCRAFT DOWN TO THE SURFACE.
WE CAN COMBINE THOSE
MEASUREMENTS FROM BOTH AIRCRAFT
TO REALLY GET DETAILED
INFORMATION AND DIG INTO THE
SCIENCE OF HOW AERSOLS AND
CLOUDS INTERACT.
>> THAT WAS OUR BEHIND THE SCENE
LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GONG HERE AT
LANGLEY TO GET READY FOR
ACTIVATE.
BACK TO YOU AT ARMSTRONG.
>> THANKS FOR THE REPORT.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THAT
AIRCRAFT.
JOINING ME NOW IS ACTUALLY THE
LEAD SCIENTISTS FOR ACTIVATE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOOKS LIKE YOUR MISSION IS IN
GOOD HANDS ACCORDING TO THAT
VIDEO.
>> CORRECT.
AS WE ALL KNOW, CLOUDS ARE A
COMMON FEATURE IN THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST BEAUTIFUL
OBJECTS TO LOOK AT, THEY PLAY A
VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR
PLANET ENERGY BALANCE.
THEY ARE VERY REFLECTIVE.
WE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW
CLOUDS WORK, ESPECIALLY HOW THEY
FORM AND HOW THEY EVOLVE.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND IT
BEGINS WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW TO
MAKE A CLOUD DROPLETS.
THE SEEDS DROPLETS ARE LITTLE
AERSOLS PARTICLES LIKE DUST AND
SMOKE.
WE'RE INHALING LARGE AMOUNTS OF
PARTICLES.
THEY VARY WIDELY IN TERMS OF
WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF AND SIZE.
DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER AND THE
AMOUNTS OF PARTICLES THAT YOU
HAVE, CLOUD DROPLETS CAN HAVE
DIFFERENT PROPERTIES IN TERMS OF
SIZE AND LIFETIME.
TO UNDERSTAND THESE COMPLEX
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PARTICLES
AND CLOUD, WE NEED AIRBORNE
MEASUREMENTS AND WE NEED
INFORMATION BELOW, INSIDE AND
BELOVE ALL AT ONCE.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THIS WITH
JUST ONE AIRPLANE.
ACTIVATE EMBRACES THIS APPROACH
AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO THEY USE
TWO PLANES THAT WILL FLY IN
FASHION TO GET ALL THE
INFORMATION WE NEED AT ONCE.
WE WILL DO ABOUT 150 JOINT
FLIGHTS OVER THE NEXT THREE
YEARS OVER THE WESTERN NORTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN.
>> WHAT KINDS OF AERSOLS ARE WE
LOOKING AT?
>> THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF
DIFFERENT POLLUTION SOURCES THAT
IMPACT THE WESTERN NORTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE
CHOSE THIS REGION.
WE NEED A WIDE DIVERSITY IN
TERMS OF EMISSION SOURCES AND
WEATHER TYPES.
WE HAVE BIOGENIC MISSIONS.
WE HAVE SEA SALTS, WE HAVE DUST
FROM AFRICA AND CERTAIN TIME WAS
OF THE YEAR.
>> YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAD A FEW
CAMPAIGNS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
SIMILAR PROCESSES, AERSOLS AND
CLOUDS, WE'VE OFF THE COAST OF
AFRICA, WE'VE BEEN IN THE
MARITIME BY THE PHILIPPINES.
WE'RE HAVING A GROW COMPANION
WITH THESE MEASUREMENTS.
WHAT'S THE POINT HAVING ALL
THESE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS
TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE WORLD?
>> THE SCIENCE OF AERSOL CLOUD
INTERACTION WHAT WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH IS GENERAL LACK
OF STATISTICS.
THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS
INFLUENCING CLOUD PROPERTIES
THAT WE JUST NEED MORE AND MORE
DATA IN DIFFERENT REGIONS THAT
ARE -- THERE'S A DIFFERENT TYPES
OF PARTICLES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF
WEATHER.
HAVING DATA ACROSS THE WORLD AND
WHAT'S VERY SPECIAL ABOUT
ACTIVATE IS THE SHEER AMOUNT OF
FLIGHTS WE'LL DO IS VERY LARGE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET ABOUT 1200
HOURS OF FLIGHT DATA, WHICH IS
KIND OF UNPRECEDENTED.
WE NEED STATISTICS.
COMBINING ALL THESE CAMPAIGN
DATA AND USING ACTIVATE IT'S
GOING TO HELP THE INTERNATIONAL
RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
>> INCREDIBLE.
HOW DID YOU GET MOTIVATED TO GET
INTO THIS KIND OF SCIENCE?
>> SINCE I WAS A CHILD, I'VE
ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED AND
INSPIRED BY AIRPLANES.
ALTHOUGH I NEVER PURSUED FLYING,
I LIKED LOOKING AT THEM AND
BEING ON PLANES.
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THIS
RESEARCH, NOT JUST BEING ON THE
PLANE BUT BEING ABLE TO STEER
THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHTS AND
DOING AN IMPACTFUL RESEARCH.
MY BACKGROUND IS AERSOLS BY
PROFESSIONAL ROLE MODEL, MY
FATHER HE'S A HYDROLOGIST WHO
STUDIES PRECIPITATION.
>> INCREDIBLE.
FOLLOWING YOUR FATHER'S FOOTSTEP
AND YOUR WORK, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
GOOD LUCK.
WE'RE FROM SMALL PARTICLES IN
THE CLOUDS TO ONE OF THE LARGEST
WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE DELTA-X
MISSION.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WATER FLOW TO
FIGURE OUT WHY SOME PARTS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA ARE
DISAPPEARING AND WHY OTHERS ARE
NOT.
JOINING ME IS LEAD SCIENTISTS,
MARK FROM JET PROPULSION
LABORATORY.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESSES AT PLAY IN THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA AND HOW
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT?
>> RIVER DELTA FORM ALONG THE
COAST.
AS THE WATER FROM THE RIVER MEET
IN THE OCEAN, THE WATER FROM THE
RIVER ITSELF SLOWS DOWN.
THE SEDIMENTS THAT CAN
TRANSPORTS TOWARDS THE COAST
ACTUALLY DEPOSIT OUT OF THE
WATER.
AS THOSE SEDIMENTS ACCUMULATE,
THEY BUILD UP SOIL.
AT ONE POINT, THE WATER WILL BE
SHALLOW, FOR VEGETATION TO GROW.
VEGETATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
THE FURTHERING OF THE SEDIMENT.
IT WILL HELP MAINTAIN THE
SEDIMENT IN PLACE AND ALSO
POTENTIALLY ACCELERATE THE
CAPTURE OF THOSE SEDIMENTS.
NOT ONLY THAT, THERE'S ALSO
ECOLOGICAL PROJECT IT IS IT
GROWS, PRODUCE ORGANIC MATERIAL
THROUGH THE ROOF.
EVERY YEAR, THEY CONTRIBUTE JUST
LIKE THE SEDIMENT TO ELEVATION
OF THE GROUND IN THE DELTA.
SEDIMENT TRANSPORT IN POSITION
AND THE SECOND ONE IS ECOLOGICAL
PART, WHICH IS THE PLANT ORGANIC
CONTRIBUTION TO SOIL ELEVATION.
>> FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS
WATCHING ON NASA TV, THAT NOISE
IS A HANGAR IN MOTION.
THIS IS A LIVE WORKING HANGAR.
DON'T MIND THAT NOISE.
GREAT, MARC, THINK ABOUT ALL THE
WAYS THAT WE CAN STUDY THESE
PROCESSES.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FIELD?
>> DELTA-X USES NASA THAT ARE
USED TO CALIBRATE NUMERICAL
MODEL.
THOSE MODELS WILL SIMULATE THE
HYDROLOGY OF THE SYSTEM SO THE
WATER CIRCULATING THROUGH THE
CHANNEL AND ACROSS THE MARSHES.
IT WILL SIMULATE THE SEDIMENTS
AND THE PLANT GROWTH.
WE USE THREE AIRCRAFTS OF WHICH
TWO ARE RADARS.
THE RADARS ARE USED TO MEASURE
THE HYDROLOGY OF THE SYSTEM IN
THE CHANNEL NETWORK AND ALSO
MARSHES.
IF WE LOOK AT THE PREPARATION OF
THE TIDAL WAVE, WE HAVE A THIRD
INSTRUMENT THAT WILL LOOK AT THE
CONTENT OF SEDIMENTS.
IT WILL LOOK AT PLANTS.
THAT THIRD ONE IS AN IMAGING
SPECTROMETER.
>> WE KNOW THAT LOT OF PEOPLE
LIVE AROUND THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER GULF.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS RESEARCH FOR
THE REGION?
>> MOST OF THE DELTA, THE LARGER
DELTA IN THE WORLD ARE SINKING
UNDER CURRENT SEA LEVEL RIESS.
THEY ARE THREATENED.
THEY HAVE TO ELEVATE THE GROUND
TO KEEP UP WITH SEA LEVEL RISE.
IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, WE'RE
LOOKING AT ALMOST 10 MILLIMETERS
OF RELATIVE SEA LEVEL RISE.
IT HAS TO ACCUMULATE A LOT OF
SEDIMENTS.
WE SEE ON THE MONITORS NOW, LOTS
OF LAND.
THOSE RED AREAS ARE THE LOST OF
LAND IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.
IF YOU TAKE THIS LAND THAT HAS
BEEN LOST IN THE LAST FEW
DECADES, WE'RE LOSING A LAND AT
THE RATE SIMILAR TO ONE FOOTBALL
FIELD EVERY HOUR.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, BETTER
UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO EXPECT IN
THE FUTURE?
>> THAT MODEL THAT WE'RE
CALIBRATING, ONCE IT'S
CALIBRATED WE CAN PREDICT WHICH
PARTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
WILL BE DROWNING UNDER SEA LEVEL
RISE AND WHICH ONES WILL
SURVIVE.
THAT WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY USE
THAT MODEL TO GUIDE AND SUPPORT
POTENTIAL RESTORATION.
>> SEEM LIKE FASCINATING WORK.
MARC, HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED
IN THIS KIND OF SCIENCE?
>> MY BACKGROUND IS PHYSICS.
I TEND TO LIKE THINGS THAT ARE
COMPLEX.
NOT ONLY IS THIS COMPLEX BECAUSE
OF THE CONSTANT AND EVENTS
BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND THE RIVER
WHICH COMES IN AND OUT.
THERE'S ALSO A COMPLEXITY DUE TO
THE PEOPLE.
I LIKE PEOPLE AND I THINK AT
THIS POINT, SCIENCE IS
SUFFICIENT ADVANCE, IT CAN BE
USED TO HELP PEOPLE AND CARE FOR
THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE HALF
BILLION PEOPLE THAT LIVE ACROSS
THE WORLD IN THE OZONE AREAS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MARC.
I AGREE.
ONE OF THE KEY INSTRUMENTS
THAT'S USED FOR DELTA-X IS THE
VEHICLE, SYNTHETIC RADAR.
IT HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT BEHIND
US.
>> WELCOME BACK.
TODAY AS YOU JUST HEARD LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE SCIENCE MISSION
LOOKING DOWN AT THE SURFACE OF
THE EARTH AND ALL DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE WORLD, THE AIRCRAFT
BEHIND ME IS WHAT WAS FORMALLY
AN AIR FORCE C20.
IT'S A GULF STREAM G3.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHITE POD
OVER MY SHOULDER HERE, THAT IS
THE MAIN SCIENCE INSTRUMENT.
SYNTHETIC RADAR IS WHAT WE TAKE
UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE WHERE WE
CAN FLY THROUGH A VERY PRECISE
PATH REPEATEDLY AND LOOK AT
SLIGHT MOVEMENTS WHETHER IT'S
LOOKING AT TOPOGRAPHY CHANGES,
VEGETATION, EARTHQUAKE FAULT
LINES, ANY MOVEMENT THERE,
GLACIER MOVEMENTS, VOLCANOES AND
THAT SORT OF THING.
THIS INSTRUMENT, PEER, THE RADAR
POD HAS BEEN COUPLED TO A
SPECIAL AUTO PILOT IN THE
AIRCRAFT THAT NASA HEAVIED HEAVY
MODIFIED.
SO THAT PILOT CAN FLY THROUGH A
SMALL 10-METER TUBE AND PUT THAT
RADAR LOOKING AT THE EXACT SAME
POSITION REPEATEDLY WHETHER IT'S
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER OR SEVERAL
MONTHSER YEAR LATER AND LOOK AT
CHANGES ON THE EARTH SURFACE.
THAT'S AN AMAZING THING TO DO.
UP IN THE AIRCRAFT, THE WAY WE
OPERATE THAT, THE PILOTS WILL
HAND FLY ON THE NORMAL AIRCRAFT
AUTO PILOT AND MANEUVER INTO
USING SOME OF THE SYMBOLOLOGY WE
HAVE TIED TO THE POD TO GET THE
AIRCRAFT AND THE RADAR RIGHT
WHERE THEY NEED IT.
WE COUPLE UP THAT PRECISION AUTO
PILOT AND THEN THE MAGIC STARTS
TO HAPPEN THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THE OBSERVATION
HAPPENS ON THE AIR SURFACE
LOOKING AT JUST CHANGES DOWN TO
A CENTIMETER.
FROM THE PILOT'S PERSPECTIVE,
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FLY
BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS JET LIKE THIS
IN A VERY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING UP
THERE IS WORKING AS A TEAM WITH
A RADAR OPERATOR IN THE BACK AND
MISSION DIRECTOR ALONG WITH THE
TWO PILOTS AND WE COORDINATE ALL
THE ACTION AGAIN TO PUT THE
CESAR SAYOC TO PUT -- THEADAR
OBJECTIVE IS TO PUT THAT RADAR
IN THE EXACT SPOT AND COMPARE
THAT DATA.
IT TAKES LOT OF SKILL.
IT'S VERY FRANTIC AS WE FLY INTO
THE TUBE BY HAND AND THEN COUPLE
OF THAT AUTO PILOT.
IT'S ARE VERY REWARDING WHEN YOU
SEE SOME OF THE FINAL PRODUCT
AND SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS
STUDY AS YOU HEARD LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THERE.
IT'S A NICE OPPORTUNITY NOT TO
HAVE TO WEAR A SPACESUIT.
I LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE
COMFORTABLE.
I HAVE ALL MY SENSES BACK AND I
CAN EAT AND DRINK.
WE ENJOY FLYING THAT AS WELL AS
ALL THE OTHER PLATFORMS THAT
CARRY THESE AMAZING SCIENCE
INSTRUMENTS AS WE STUDY THE
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANKS.
THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS, FIVE
CAMPAIGNS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE
U.S.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
WE WANT YOU TO KEEP FOLLOWING US
AS WE COVER EACH OF THESE
CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE POSTING BLOGS, PHOTOS AND
VIDEOS AND WE'LL HAVE Q&As.
PLEASE FOLLOW US ON NASA.GOV FOR
ALL THE LATEST.
ALSO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THANKS SO MUCH AND SEE YOU NEXT
TIME.