HR: 0800h
AN: U51A-0006    [Abstracts]
TI: Monitoring the Impact of Anthropogenic and Natural Influences on the Environment of Mesoamerica
AU: * Hardin, D
EM: dhardin@itsc.uah.edu
AF: The University of Alabama at Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899 United States
AU: Graves, S
EM: sgraves@itsc.uah.edu
AF: The University of Alabama at Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899 United States
AU: Sever, T
EM: tom.sever@msfc.nasa.gov
AF: National Space Science and Technology Center, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805 United States
AU: Irwin, D
EM: dan.irwin@msfc.nasa.gov
AF: National Space Science and Technology Center, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805 United States
AB: Mesoamerica - composed of the seven Central American countries and the five southernmost states of Mexico - is one of the richest biological regions in the world. The region is home to approximately eight percent of the planet's biodiversity. There are 14 biosphere reserves, eight world heritage sites and 589 protected areas. The human population, of over 45 million people consists of more than 50 ethnic groups. This rich biological and cultural diversity is threatened by human influence and natural disasters. Illegal logging and slash and burn agriculture are major contributors to extensive deforestation. Earthquakes, volcanoes, drought, and severe storms threaten the region. Of particular note is the massive destruction and loss of life resulting from hurricane Mitch in 1998. An international effort is underway to preserve the remaining forested regions, with its biodiversity, and to promote sustained development throughout the region. In 2002 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) joined with the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to work with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), to develop an advanced decision support system for Mesoamerica known as SERVIR. (SERVIR is a Spanish acronym meaning to serve.) The partners are contributing expertise in space-based observation with information management technologies and intimate knowledge of local ecosystems to create a system for use by scientists, educators, and policy makers to monitor and forecast ecological changes, respond to natural disasters, and better understand both natural and human induced effects. NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) are concentrating on the preparation of data products and Information Technology applications that will integrate information from the entire region into a coherent information system that is easy to access and utilize. Already, numerous products derived from data from NASA's Earth-Sun Connection missions (formerly known as the Earth Science Enterprise) have been developed. Data from the MODIS instrument is being used to create imagery products that can be used to monitor the extent of fires, and the location of harmful algae blooms. Data from the NOAA GOES satellites are made available at 15 minute intervals for weather forecasting. Other data products are planned that will address issues such as local flooding and hot spots. Many other institutions, both in the United States and in Central America, are generating data products for the region. In an effort to make all of the information readily available, UAH is developing web services and related GIS applications. These technologies are designed to present the information in both two and three dimensions, giving the decision makers clear representations of the physical environment. By providing data products that accurately capture specific geophysical phenomena and, an information delivery system that combines inputs from each country, we are making inroads toward preserving the wealth to society that Mesoamerica provides.
DE: 0410 Biodiversity
DE: 1615 Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling (0412, 0414, 0793, 4805, 4912)
SC: Union [U]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005