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NASA “Wildfire Digital Twin” Pioneers New AI Models and Streaming Data Techniques for Forecasting Fire and Smoke
MAY 21, 2024
NASA’s “Wildfire Digital Twin” project will equip firefighters and wildfire managers with a superior tool for monitoring wildfires and predicting harmful air pollution events and help researchers observe global wildfire trends more precisely.
The tool, developed with funding from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office and NASA’s FireSense Program, will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to forecast potential burn paths in real time, merging data from in situ, airborne, and spaceborne sensors to produce global models with high precision.
Whereas current global models describing the spread of wildfires and smoke have a spatial resolution of about 10 kilometers per pixel, the Wildfire Digital Twin would produce regional ensemble models with a spatial resolution of 10-to-30 meters per pixel, an improvement of two orders of magnitude.
These models could be generated in a span of mere minutes. By comparison, current global models can take hours to produce.
Models with such high spatial resolution produced at this speed would be immensely valuable to first-responders and wildfire managers trying to observe and contain dynamic burns.
Milton Halem, a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, leads the Wildfire Digital Twin project, which includes a team of more than 20 researchers from six universities.
“We want to be able to provide firefighters with useful, timely information,” said Halem, adding that in the field, “there is generally no internet, and no access to big supercomputers, but with our API version of the model, they could run the digital twin not just on a laptop, but even a tablet,” he said.
NASA’s FireSense project is focused on leveraging the agency’s unique Earth science and technological capabilities to achieve improved wildfire management across the United States.
NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office supports this effort with its newest program element, Technology Development for support of Wildfire Science, Management, and Disaster Mitigation (FireSense Technology), which is dedicated to developing novel observation capabilities for predicting and managing wildfires –including technologies like Earth System Digital Twins.
Earth System Digital Twins are dynamic software tools for modeling and forecasting climate events in real time. These tools rely on data sources distributed across multiple domains to create ensemble predictions describing everything from floods to severe weather.
In addition to assisting first responders, an Earth System Digital Twin dedicated to modeling wildfires would also be valuable to scientists monitoring wildfire trends globally.
In particular, Halem hopes Wildfire Digital Twins will improve our ability to study wildfires across global boreal forests of cold-hardy conifers, which sequester vast amounts of carbon.
When these forests burn, all of that carbon is released back into the atmosphere. One study, released in August of 2023, found that boreal wildfires alone accounted for 25% of all global CO2 emissions for that year to date.
“The reason CO2 emissions from Boreal wildfires are taking place at an increasing yearly rate is because global warming is rising faster at high latitudes than the rest of the planet, and as a result, boreal summers there are becoming longer,” said Halem.
“Whereas the rest of the planet may have warmed one degree Celsius since the pre-industrial revolution, this region has warmed well over two degrees.”
Halem’s work builds on other wildfire models, particularly the NASA-Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (NUWRF) model, developed by NASA, and WRF-SFIRE, developed by a team of researchers with support from the National Science Foundation.
These models simulate phenomena like wind speed and cloud cover, which makes them the perfect foundation for a Wildfire Digital Twin.
Specifically, Halem’s team is working on new satellite data assimilation techniques that will blend information from space-based remote sensors into their Wildfire Digital Twin, enabling improved global data forecasts that will be useful for emergencies and science missions alike.
In October, Halem’s team participated in the first FireSense field campaign in collaboration with the National Forest Service’s Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) to observe smoke as it travelled more than 10 miles during a controlled burn in Utah, using a ceilometer.
Now the team is feeding that data into their modeling software to help it track plumes more accurately.
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/nasa-wildfire-digital-twin-pioneers-new-ai-models-and-streaming-data-techniques-for-forecasting-fire-and-smoke/
Webb Cracks Case of Inflated Exoplanet
MAY 20, 2024
Why is the warm gas-giant exoplanet WASP-107 b so puffy? Two independent teams of researchers have an answer.
Data collected using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, combined with prior observations from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, show surprisingly little methane (CH4) in the planet’s atmosphere, indicating that the interior of WASP-107 b must be significantly hotter and the core much more massive than previously estimated.
The unexpectedly high temperature is thought to be a result of tidal heating caused by the planet’s slightly non-circular orbit, and can explain how WASP-107 b can be so inflated without resorting to extreme theories of how it formed.
The results, which were made possible by Webb’s extraordinary sensitivity and accompanying ability to measure light passing through exoplanet atmospheres, may explain the puffiness of dozens of low-density exoplanets, helping solve a long-standing mystery in exoplanet science.
At more than three-quarters the volume of Jupiter but less than one-tenth the mass, the “warm Neptune” exoplanet WASP-107 b is one of the least dense planets known.
While puffy planets are not uncommon, most are hotter and more massive, and therefore easier to explain.
“Based on its radius, mass, age, and assumed internal temperature, we thought WASP-107 b had a very small, rocky core surrounded by a huge mass of hydrogen and helium,” explained Luis Welbanks from Arizona State University (ASU), lead author on a paper published today in Nature.
“But it was hard to understand how such a small core could sweep up so much gas, and then stop short of growing fully into a Jupiter-mass planet.”
If WASP-107 b instead has more of its mass in the core, the atmosphere should have contracted as the planet cooled over time since it formed. Without a source of heat to re-expand the gas, the planet should be much smaller.
Although WASP-107 b has an orbital distance of just 5 million miles (one-seventh the distance between Mercury and the Sun), it doesn’t receive enough energy from its star to be so inflated.
“WASP-107 b is such an interesting target for Webb because it’s significantly cooler and more Neptune-like in mass than many of the other low-density planets, the hot Jupiters, we’ve been studying,” said David Sing from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU), lead author on a parallel study also published today in Nature.
“As a result, we should be able to detect methane and other molecules that can give us information about its chemistry and internal dynamics that we can’t get from a hotter planet.”
WASP-107 b’s giant radius, extended atmosphere, and edge-on orbit make it ideal for transmission spectroscopy, a method used to identify the various gases in an exoplanet atmosphere based on how they affect starlight.
Combining observations from Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), and Hubble’s WFC3 (Wide Field Camera 3), Welbanks’ team was able to build a broad spectrum of 0.8- to 12.2-micron light absorbed by WASP-107 b’s atmosphere.
Using Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph), Sing’s team built an independent spectrum covering 2.7 to 5.2 microns.
The precision of the data makes it possible to not just detect, but actually measure the abundances of a wealth of molecules, including water vapor (H2O), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ammonia (NH3).
Both spectra show a surprising lack of methane in WASP-107 b’s atmosphere: one-thousandth the amount expected based on its assumed temperature.
“This is evidence that hot gas from deep in the planet must be mixing vigorously with the cooler layers higher up,” explained Sing. “Methane is unstable at high temperatures. The fact that we detected so little, even though we did detect other carbon-bearing molecules, tells us that the interior of the planet must be significantly hotter than we thought.”
A likely source of WASP-107 b’s extra internal energy is tidal heating caused by its slightly elliptical orbit. With the distance between the star and planet changing continuously over the 5.7-day orbit, the gravitational pull is also changing, stretching the planet and heating it up.
Researchers had previously proposed that tidal heating could be the cause of WASP-107 b’s puffiness, but until the Webb results were in, there was no evidence.
Once they established that the planet has enough internal heat to thoroughly churn up the atmosphere, the teams realized that the spectra could also provide a new way to estimate the size of the core.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/webb-cracks-case-of-inflated-exoplanet/
NASA astronaut receives North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award
May. 20, 2024 at 2:07 PM PDT
Gov. Doug Burgum announced NASA astronaut James Buchli as the 49th recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the state’s highest commendation for its citizens.
Buchli born in New Rockford, has represented North Dakota in the fields of aviation and space exploration with immense skill and dedication, captivating and inspiring North Dakotans and space enthusiasts around the world.
Buchli became the first North Dakotan to fly in space and is a veteran of four space flights. He has orbited the Earth 319 times, traveled 7.74 million miles and spent more than 20 days in space.
He was a distinguished Marine Corps aviator before becoming a NASA astronaut with a career marked by impeccable service and groundbreaking achievements.
“Jim Buchli’s distinguished career is a testament to perseverance, expertise and leadership. He flew on four space shuttle missions and participated in scientific experiments, satellite deployments and defense-related space operations of great importance to our country,” said Burgum.
“An exceptional North Dakotan, Buchli is a great supporter of the UND Aerospaceprogram and shares his experience and skills with aspiring students.
As the first person born in North Dakota to visit space, he’s an example of just how far a North Dakotan can go.”
“Theodore Roosevelt got it right when he said that without the time he spent in North Dakota, he would never have been President,” Buchli said.
“North Dakota has given me the work ethic, determination and tenacity to succeed, just as it has for many others. For that gift, I am truly grateful.”
A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Buchli began his career with a commission as a Second Lieutenant upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967, followed by a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering Systems from the University of West Florida. As a Marine Corps officer, Buchli served with valor during the Vietnam War, earned numerous decorations and demonstrated exceptional skill as a naval aviator with over 4,200 flight hours in 17 aircraft types.
As a NASA astronaut, Buchli quickly established himself as a critical member of the pioneering space shuttle program. Selected in 1978 after completion of the Navy Test Pilot School, Buchli brought his extensive military experience to the space program, becoming one of the first astronauts specifically chosen for the space shuttle era.
His missions included high-profile and challenging flights such as STS-51C, the first Department of Defense mission, and STS-61A, a joint venture with West Germany that featured the largest crew at that time and the first international payload operations.
Buchli’s career was marked by important scientific experiments and satellite deployments, such as the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite during STS-48.
Following his active flight career, Buchli continued to serve as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, where he played a key role in astronaut training and operations.
Buchli has frequently returned to North Dakota, engaging with the University of North Dakota’s space studies program and inspiring future generations of aerospace professionals.
His humility and dedication to service resonate deeply within the community, and his contributions have inspired countless students in aerospace and STEM-related fields.
In 2019, Buchli was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the foremost figures in American space history.
Buchli has advanced human spaceflight and served as an inspiration to many in North Dakotaand beyond.
His legacy is a powerful reminder of the heights that can be achieved through perseverance and commitment.
The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award recognizes present and former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens. Established during the 1961 Dakota Territory Centennial, the award was initially given as an honorary rank of Colonel in the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders.
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe and State Historical Society Director Bill Peterson both concurred with Burgum’s selection of Buchli for the Rough Rider Award.
The award will be presented later this year with Buchli in person at a date and location to be announced soon.
https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/05/20/nasa-astronaut-receives-north-dakota-theodore-roosevelt-rough-rider-award/
UN Security Council rejects Russia’s space weapons resolution
05/21/24 11:50 AM ET
The United Nations Security Council rejected a Russian-backed resolution that called to prevent the deployment of weapons in space after the U.S., France and the U.K. all voted against the measure.
The final vote was 7-7 with one abstention. In favor of the measure was Algeria, China, Ecuador, Guyana, Mozambique, Russia, and Sierra Leone.
Against the resolution was France, Japan, Malta, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the U.K., and the U.S., with Switzerland abstaining. The U.S., the U.K. and France are permanent members and have veto power.
The Monday vote came after Russia vetoed a resolution last month that called to reaffirm a commitment to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which calls to prevent the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space, a renewed fear after the U.S. accused Moscow of preparing to potentially put such a weapon in space.
Russia said it had vetoed that measure because it wanted to prohibit all weapons from being deployed in space. Following the vote last month, Russia quickly offered an alternative resolution that called to prevent the deployment of any kind of weapon in space and for countries to take steps toward a legally binding agreement to limit arms above Earth.
U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, the alternate representative for special political affairs at the U.N, said that Russia “has sought to distract from its dangerous efforts to put a nuclear weapon into orbit.”
“The culmination of Russia’s campaign of diplomatic gaslighting and dissembling is the text before us today,” Wood said before the vote.
“Russia’s resolution does not achieve the simple task that we set out to achieve several months ago: reaffirm the basic obligations of the Outer Space Treaty and avoid a nuclear arms race in space.”
Wood also accused Russia of launching a satellite on May 16 into low Earth orbit that he said is “likely a counterspace weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit.”
“Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite,” Wood said.
The U.S. in February first accused Russia of preparing to potentially deploy a nuclear weapon in space, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his country has such aims.
Russia’s U.N. representative, Vasily Nebenzya, on Monday accused the U.S. of being hypocritical by vetoing his measure, which he claimed was “identical” to the April measured backed by Washington.
“We are now proposing a resolution which encompasses both [weapons of mass destruction] and all forms of other weapons in outer space,” he said. “We are talking about preventing an arms race in outer space.”
Japan’s U.N. representative Yamazaki Kazuyuki, whose country helped draft the April resolution along with the U.S., said he voted against the measure on Monday in part over concerns about the resolution’s effectiveness.
“Significant challenges remain in defining and verifying a weapon in outer space,” he said. “In order to address security challenges in outer space, it is crucial to focus on how certain objects or capabilities are applied and used.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/4676791-un-security-council-rejects-russia-space-weapons-resolution/
Space Force Plans Revolutionary Satellite 'Jetpack': Everything We Know
May 21, 2024 at 12:05 PM EDT
The U.S. Space Force is set to partner with startup Starfish Space to launch a satellite "jetpack" that can dock with "virtually any" satellite currently in orbit and assist with maneuvering capabilities in a $37.5 million contract.
The first-of-its kind technology would be able to extend the life of satellites by docking to them and using its own fuel to keep them operational in Geostationary orbit.
The new kit, dubbed "Otter," can also be used to dispose of defunct satellites that pose collision risks to functional satellites, freeing up space in Earth's already crowded orbital zone.
According to Starfish Space, "Otter's" kit includes autonomous guidance and control software that "enables complex RPOD [Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking] missions," binocular computer vision, and a reusable system that allows for docking on "virtually any" flat surface in orbit.
"Starfish looks forward to collaborating with the Space Force to build the capabilities required to enable Dynamic Space Operations," said Trevor Bennett, co-founder at Starfish Space, in a statement provided to Newsweek.
"We are in a position to deliver a real on-orbit capability on a relevant timeframe. We're proud to support the DoD in its national security objectives, and grateful to our partners at Space Systems Command, USSPACECOM, SpaceWERX, and across the DoD."
Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the company aims to launch one of its "Otter" craft by 2026.
Starfish Space says it envisions a wide array of applications for the technology, including in-space inspection, orbital relocation, and logistics services, as well as conducting repairs, component upgrades, and in-space assembly and manufacturing.
Starfish Space's contract with USSF comes after the startup completed its first mission to demonstrate the technology, "Otter Pup," earlier this month.
Newsweek has contacted the Space Force for comment via email.
As of 2021 there were 6,542 satellites in orbit above Earth. Approximately half of these were non-functional.
Founded in 2019 by Austin Link and Trevor Bennet, Starfish Space is a startup that focuses on satellite servicing, aiming to capitalize on the need for orbital maintenance.
https://www.newsweek.com/space-force-revolutionary-satellite-jetpack-everything-we-know-1902918
Artemis Accords for sustainable space exploration - Canada welcomes partners from around the world
Tue, May 21, 2024, 6:30 AM PDT
LONGUEUIL, QC, May 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Sameer Zuberi, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy kicked-off the 2nd edition of the Artemis Accords Workshop at the John H. Chapman Space Centre (CSA Headquarters). The Artemis Accords represent a set of non-binding principles designed to guide peaceful and sustainable civil space exploration for the benefit of humanity.
Over the next 3 days, representatives from 25 of the 40 signatories of the Artemis Accords will discuss principles for safe, transparent, and sustainable space exploration activities. The Accords reinforce the commitment by all signatories to enhance the governance of space exploration to support scientific discovery and innovation.
There are growing opportunities for the space sector with the emergence of exploration, science, and commercial space activities. Canada recognizes the need for best practices to increase the safety of operations, reduce uncertainty, and promote the sustainable and beneficial use of space for all humankind. In October 2020, Canada became an original signatory of the Artemis Accords and continues to work with international partners to further develop and refine the international framework for the next chapter of space exploration.
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"Space exploration leads to breakthrough discoveries in science and technology that directly benefit us here on Earth. Canada and its allies are going back to the Moon, with approximately 100 international missions planned in the next decade, we must explore space safely and sustainably to ensure continued benefits to all humanity. Canada is proud to welcome partners from around the world to discuss exciting next steps in space exploration."
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/artemis-accords-sustainable-space-exploration-133000155.html
Enigma Labs launches state UFO sighting webpages
Updated May 20, 2024
In the study of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and UFOs, a company has launched a new way to track sightings and view videos of these events based on the state where they occurred. Alejandro Rojas, a long-time researcher and consultant for Enigma Labs, shared in an exclusive interview with the Roswell Daily Record how this platform seeks to move UAP research forward through citizen science and global collaboration.
The project began with the simple idea of allowing people to actively participate in the research of UFOs, regardless of their background.
The team at Enigma Labs set out to develop a platform that would allow users to report sightings, interact with other people who share their interests, and provide much-needed data for existing research projects on the topic.
“Collaboration is at the heart of Enigma’s mission,” Rojas said.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between citizen scientists and established researchers, fostering an environment of transparency, accessibility, and knowledge-sharing.”
Utilizing the “Enigma — UFO & UAP Sightings” app, currently available on iOS devices, individuals can report and view sightings worldwide.
“Diversity is one of Enigma’s greatest strengths,” Rojas said.
“By providing multilingual support and accommodating users from diverse cultural backgrounds, we aim to showcase the universality of UFO sightings and foster a sense of global collaboration and understanding.”
Now, with the newly launched webpages, users can view this information without needing the app.
“Our commitment to scientific rigor ensures that Enigma remains at the forefront of UFO research,” Rojas emphasized.
Collaborating with scientists and investigators, the team uses cutting-edge technology to analyze sightings, collect sensor data and gain meaningful insights into these events.
“We strive to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accuracy, and accountability in all our endeavors,” he said.
One goal the team has is to elevate the conversation surrounding UFO research and move past myths and misconceptions that often cloud the field.
“Navigating misinformation is a constant challenge,” Rojas acknowledged.
“But by prioritizing transparency, accuracy and accountability, we can empower individuals to separate fact from fiction and engage in meaningful dialogue about the mysteries of the cosmos.”
With a growing, engaged community, the team has high hopes for what lies ahead.
“The future is bright for Enigma,” Rojas declared.
“As we continue to democratize UFO research, foster collaboration and promote scientific rigor, we will play a leading role in unraveling the truth behind UFO sightings and shaping the future of discovery.”
For information on Enigma Labs and to view sightings, visit their website at enigmalabs.io.
https://www.rdrnews.com/news/state/enigma-labs-launches-state-ufo-sighting-webpages/article_1b1de600-1567-11ef-a3b1-afcbc229064d.html
Alien-like creature discovered on Oregon beach
May 21, 2024
A rare deep-sea creature with alien-like features washed up on an Oregon beach's shore.
Local beachcombers found a deep-sea angler fish known as the Pacific football fish just south of Cannon Beach, Oregon, which is around an hour and a half drive northwest of Portland, said the Seaside Aquarium in a Facebook post on May 18.
The fish is rare, and according to the aquarium, only 31 species have been recorded worldwide
"Living in complete darkness, at 2,000-3,300 feet (below the sea,) these fish are rarely seen," states its post.
The aquarium did not see the fish in person, but the person who found the fish sent photos of it to the aquarium, Keith Chandler, the aquarium's general manager, told USA TODAY.
"The person who found it didn't want to let us have it to preserve it," said Chandler.
Chandler said since the beach comber found the creature, they can do whatever they like with the rare fish.
What is a Pacific football fish?
It's an angler fish, which may be familiar because a female angler fish was featured in Disney Pixar's 2003 movie "Finding Nemo," but it looks drastically different from the one found on the beach.
Angler fish are deep-sea creatures living in pitch-black darkness, and the aquarium states it's still unknown how they are able to do so.
"Little is known about (Pacific football fish's) life history but what is known is unusually fascinating," states the aquarium's post.
" Like other angler fish, they use light that shines from a phosphorescent bulb on their forehead to attract prey"
Food is sparse in the deep waters where these odd fish live, so they're not selective about their cuisine and will eat anything "that can fit into their mouths."
According to the museum, females of the species actively hunt, but males are 10 times smaller than females and are more like parasites and "fuse" into the females of the species.
"They lose their eyes and internal organs, getting all their nutrients from their female partners," reads the aquarium's post. "In return, they provide females with a steady source of sperm."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alien-like-creature-discovered-on-oregon-beach/ar-BB1mJggk?ocid=weather-verthp-feeds