NASA's Earth Applied Sciences Program helps people use Earth observations to solve the planet's most pressing issues. During the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Applied Sciences works within the Earth Science Division to support innovative and practical uses of NASA data while also making the health, welfare and safety of their users, partners, scientists and staff a priority.
For updates about NASA and the Earth Science Division’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://www.nasa.gov/coronavirus
COVID-19 Earth Observations Dashboard
In response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) have joined forces to use the collective scientific power of their Earth-observing satellite data to document planet-wide changes in the environment and human society. The wealth of these agencies’ collective information now is available at the touch of a finger.
In an unprecedented collaboration, the three space agencies have created the joint COVID-19 Earth Observation Dashboard, which integrates multiple satellite data records with analytical tools to allow user-friendly tracking of changes in air and water quality, climate change, economic activity, and agriculture. This tri-agency data resource gives the public and policymakers a unique tool to probe the short-term and long-term impacts of pandemic-related restrictions implemented around the world. The dashboard will continue to grow with new observations added over the coming months as the global economy gradually reopens. Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-partner-space-agencies-amass-global-view-of-covid-19-impacts
NASA Disasters Program Activities
The NASA Earth Applied Sciences Disasters program area has activated to Tier 2 for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with enhanced interagency coordination, and are investigating topics such as the seasonality of the outbreak as well as pollution and co-morbidity and local and regional impacts. The Disasters Program is unique in its capability to coordinate and synthesize resources from multiple NASA centers, missions, and international and domestic partners to provide a multi-faceted view of the pandemic and its compounding impacts with other disasters.
Disasters program coordinators attended the National Geospatial Coordination calls hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that were taking place during the first several weeks of the pandemic. The Disasters Program is also leading weekly COVID-19 Science & Technology Interagency Discussions to share information and ideas with other U.S. agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Other supporting partners include Esri, the All Hazards Consortium, CONVERGE, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and the U.K. Department for International Development.
Members of the NASA Earth Applied Sciences Disasters Program community are encouraged to submit proposals for research in response to the evolving pandemic through the Rapid Response and Novel research in the Earth Sciences (RRNES) rolling solicitation: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary!init.do?solId={3F3DFBFB-8FEE-F317-63FD-CB84ECA833EC}&path=open
In addition, the Disasters Program remains ready to facilitate timely access to reliable, relevant data and data products, such as maps and models, to assist in the event of other hazards and disasters, including the 2020 hurricane and fire seasons.