“2019 was the second warmest year on record.”
This statement is often heard in the news or other media and is based on climate data records located at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, North Carolina. At NCEI, researchers of many disciplines serve as the nation’s, and the world’s, score-keepers of climate data. Stewarding those records is a major function of NCEI, which maintains over 30 petabytes of environmental data, including weather observations dating back to 1735!
“Under the mentorship from researchers at NCEI, DEVELOP NC participants have worked with a variety of user groups, including local community leaders and international research organizations, to explore how remote sensing and NASA Earth observations can address their concerns centered on drought.”
Since 2014, NCEI has hosted a NASA DEVELOP Program location. Over the past year, the DEVELOP NC location has garnered a special relationship with the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) to focus on creating drought application projects. Under the mentorship from researchers at NCEI, DEVELOP NC participants have worked with a variety of user groups, including local community leaders and international research organizations, to explore how remote sensing and NASA Earth observations can address their concerns centered on drought.During the fall of 2019, a DEVELOP NC team had the opportunity to work on a local drought-related issue, urban heat in the city of Asheville. Periods of drought can exacerbate urban heat, which is a concern for communities sensitive to heat-related health conditions, but tree cover provides cooling effects through shade and evapotranspiration that reduce the heat.
The DEVELOP team partnered with the Asheville Urban Forestry Commission to quantify the relationship between local tree cover data and land surface temperature measurements derived from NASA Earth observations. The Urban Forestry Commission invited the DEVELOP team to speak at their symposium on urban forests and climate, where the team presented to an audience of over 100 community members. The Urban Forestry Commission will use the project results to prioritize the protection and expansion of tree cover in vulnerable neighborhoods within the city.
Being in Asheville, North Carolina provides many benefits to the DEVELOP NC participants. Not only do the participants get to conduct scientific research alongside some of the world’s greatest climatologists, but when the team gets a chance to break from their work, they also get to explore the year-round beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain range extends from Georgia to Pennsylvania; however, the highest peaks are found right in North Carolina! The DEVELOP NC teams get to hike, camp, and explore the great outdoors, while bonding together as a team.
“In DEVELOP, participants improve their scientific and technical skills in the use of NASA Earth observations, remote sensing, and GIS. Participants also professionally develop and improve their presentation and communication skills, confidence in the workplace, and leadership skills.”
The DEVELOP NC location is also near the DEVELOP GA location in Athens, GA. Both locations have the advantage of meeting, interacting, and learning from participants and advisors of the other teams.In addition, the two locations often have a joint end-of-term closeout at one of their locations, where all teams’ projects from that term are presented to a broad audience of scientists, researchers, and professors. In DEVELOP, participants improve their scientific and technical skills in the use of NASA Earth observations, remote sensing, and GIS. Participants also professionally develop and improve their presentation and communication skills, confidence in the workplace, and leadership skills. These end-of-term closeout presentations are an excellent way to see the DEVELOP participants’ growth of both technical and professional skills.
DEVELOP teams at NCEI enjoy working with mentors and researchers from both NOAA and NASA centers, and exploring how the use of their data products, together, can enhance Earth science applications.
