GEOG Researchers Selected as Principal Investigators on NASA Suomi NPP Science Team

The Department of Geographical Sciences (GEOG) was unusually successful in having four researchers selected in the recent national competition to join the NASA Suomi NPP Science Team.  Dr. Louis Giglio (Associate Research Professor) was selected for Development of a Suomi NPP VIIRS Global Burned Area Earth System Data Record.  Dr. Wilfrid Schroeder (Associate Research Professor) was selected for "S-NPP/VIIRS Active Fire Algorithm and Data Record Development and Refinement."  Dr. Chris Justice (Professor and Chairman) with Dr. Inbal Becker-Reshef (Assistant Research Professor) was selected to develop "Agricultural Monitoring Applications of VIIRS Data.”  Dr. Justice was also selected as the Land Discipline Leader.  Dr. Eric Vermote (Adjunct Professor and Physical Scientist at NASA-GSFC) was also selected for the "Development of the VIIRS Climate Quality Surface Reflectance Product Suite.”  Dr. Vermote’s team includes GEOG’s Dr. Jean Claude Roger (Research Professor) and Dr. Martin Claverie (Research Associate).

The Suomi NPP polar orbiting satellite was named after a pioneering scientist in the development of weather satellites.  The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on board the satellite provides operational continuity for the NASA EOS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. GEOG researchers have been instrumental in the development of science products from the NASA MODIS instrument and will continue their research in the framework of the Suomi NPP Mission.  The global products generated from these instruments play an important role in NASA’s Earth System Science Program and more generally in Global Change Research.

Published on Fri, 10/03/2014 - 20:06