What does Outer Space have to do with it? (second of a series)

We want to consider the question, "What new things could we do in space to help with terrestrial resource shortages?" But first, let's take a look at what's ALREADY being done with space technology. It turns out that information from satellites is already being used in important ways to help with agriculture, hydrology, energy system planning and operation, and disaster mitigation.

POSITIONING

GPS, clearly a space-based product, gives high-tech farmers some significant  benefits. Some of these aren't obvious. For example, suppose a farmer walks his field and records the insect levels, mapping them with GPS. Crop dusters can adjust their pesticide applications according to the relative infestation levels. It saves money and reduces crop exposure to the pesticides. Louisiana State University's Ag Center has developed an overview of agricultural GPS applications--some expected, some surprising.

IMAGERY

You might think that pictures of a farm from 400 miles up wouldn't be very helpful to the farmer. You would be wrong. Lurking within the details of the light reflected from a farm--its spectrum, how it changes, what patterns does it show--is information about growth rates, storm damage, insect damage, soil quality, and many other yield-affecting items. Satellite Imaging Corporation, for one, makes a business of collecting this data from space, processing the data, and selling it to producers. Their website gives a description of some of their products, including how they are processed, and how they can benefit the farmer.

HYDROLOGY

Satellite-derived data can measure rainfall, water movement, and reservoir levels. NASA has present and future programs for satellite tracking of water in sensitive regions of the globe. These systems provide information on surface water. But much agricultural production around the world relies on irrigation--and much of that water comes, not from surface sources, but from underground aquifers. Amazingly, satellites can even provide data on aquifer levels--using radar and using gravity itself to detect changes. The depletion of groundwater is of major concern, particularly (surprise) in India and China.

This data is also a major input to the Famine Early Warning System Network discussed in an earlier post.

ENERGY

The uses of space-derived data for energy system planning and operation are not as widespread as for agricultural purposes. Of course, power companies rely on weather data to make estimates of their energy requirements; and satellites such as the GOES satellites in geostationary orbit are important to weather observation and prediction. There is increasing use of satellite data for planning wind turbine farm locations. And as more and more energy is generated from solar sources (thermal and photovoltaic), measurement and prediction of cloud cover will be crucial for efficient power system operation.

WHAT'S NEXT?

We can assume that there will be more innovative uses of space-derived data in the agriculture, water and energy sectors. In the next posts, we will ask, "Is there anything BEYOND DATA that we can get from space?"