NASA scientists have developed a new satellite than can predict the severity of drought worldwide. This latest innovation could be beneficial to farmers and water managers in preparing their contingency plans.
The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite is scheduled to launch this coming October and is one of the first Earth observation satellites developed by the U.S. space agency. The satellite will measure the land's surface soil moisture and condition, and data provided can be used by to improve flood prediction and drought monitoring.
In 2012, 81 percent of the United States experienced irregularly dry conditions, resulting to $30 billion worth of damages. Scientists predicted that this could worsen due to global warming. The United States is historically predisposed to drought and it has greatly affected the agricultural industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 71 percent of the country under natural disaster during the peak of the drought in 2012.
"Agricultural drought occurs when the demand for water for crop production exceeds available water supplies from precipitation, surface water and sustainable withdrawals from groundwater," said Forrest Melton, a research scientist in the Ecological Forecasting Lab at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.
Currently, experts rely on ground sensors to gather measurements in certain agricultural areas. SMAP satellite is different in that it can provide information on a global scale. In 2 to 3 days, SMAP will monitor the top 2 inches of the soil in Earth's surface and provide a detailed map of soil moisture across the world.
Scientists aim to improve the way farmers manage their irrigation patterns and crop management through the data SMAP will supply.
"If farmers of rain-fed crops know soil moisture, they can schedule their planting to maximize crop yield," said Narendra Das, a water and carbon cycle scientist on SMAP's science team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "SMAP can assist in predicting how dramatic drought will be, and then its data can help farmers plan their recovery from drought."
