Landsat’s Critical Role in Protecting Human Health
People have long recognized the connection between the environment and human health. Various animal and insect species from mice to mosquitoes serve as vectors that can transmit disease pathogens to people. Malaria is among the most deadly, preventable vector-borne diseases. About half of the world’s population (3.3 billion people) is at risk of contracting malaria from mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization. Other human health problems such as cancer arise from exposure to pollutants in the environment. Finally, malnutrition can follow crop-destroying natural disasters such as drought or floods in poor regions. Landsat measurements can help decision makers pinpoint and minimize environmental health risks. With a spatial resolution of 30 meters, Landsat is well suited to mapping various components of changing landscapes, including agriculture and urbanization, that might pollute waterways. This level of detail can also show where water has accumulated in depressions to become breeding grounds for disease-carrying insect vectors. Landsat measures reflected light in both visible wavelengths and infrared wavelengths. This combination of measurements helps scientists gauge how healthy vegetation is, since growing plants generally absorb red light and reflect infrared light. Knowing the health of plants informs decision makers about cropland productivity and habitat conditions for disease-carrying insects and animals.
Thirst for Knowledge: NASA Eyes World's Water
As the world moves toward adding a few more billion people in the coming decades, many people who keep an eye on the horizon find themselves worried about water. Drinking
How Wetlands and Rice Paddies Affect the Spread of Bird Flu
In the mid-1990s, highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) emerged in southern China. Severe outbreaks in the winter of 2005-2006 spread the virus, designated H5N1, across Asia, Europe, and Africa,
Landsat Key in New UNEP Atlas of Africa's Environmental Change
Glacial Retreat to Rapid Urbanization Chronicled in Landmark Satellite Report to Africa’s Environment Ministers Source: United Nations Environment Programme Africa’s rapidly changing environmental landscape, from the disappearance of glaciers in
NASA Data Helps Pinpoint Impacted Populations in Disaster Aftermath
Contact: Gretchen Cook-Anderson, NASA/GSFC When two catastrophic natural disasters struck within days of each other in May 2008, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and health officials, as well as members of the
Sensor Synergy: Great Lakes Algae Monitoring
A rare bird has been flying over the Great Lakes recently, and it isn’t migrating or searching for prey. This hawkeyed species is a Learjet aircraft outfitted with an advanced
U.S. Uses Landsat Satellite Data To Fight Hunger, Poverty
Remote sensing is a critical tool for agriculture, land use worldwide Source: Cheryl Pellerin, America.gov, U.S. Department of State Over the 35 years that U.S. Landsat Earth-observation satellites have collected images
