Opportunity ID | 19301 |
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Opportunity URL | https://npp.usra.edu/opportunities/details/?ro=19301 |
Location |
Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA 94035 |
Field of Science | Earth Science |
Advisor | Christopher Potter 650-604-6164 chris.potter@nasa.gov |
Citizenship Requirement |
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Description | The area of forest burned in Alaska has increased greatly over the last several decades. High severity fires have been attributed to new climate warming trends. These high-latitude wildfires have numerous impacts on the regional environment, including greenhouse gas fluxes, aerosol emissions, black carbon deposition on snow and sea-ice, and changes in land surface albedo. The objective of this study will be to understand the changes over time in plant species composition and vegetation phenology for several wildfire areas that have burned in Alaska during recent summer seasons. Field surveys in Alaska will be combined with new (2017-2019) hyperspectral imaging flights conducted under the NASA Terrestrial Ecology study program. The applicant will be required to carry out field work in burned areas near Fairbanks AK over several weeks in the summer season. Experience in image processing software is desirable. |