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Earth Science and Applications from Space 13 DESDynI Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of Ice Launch: 2010â2013 Mission size: Large Orbit: LEO, SSO Agency: NASA Estimated cost: $700 million Areas of interest: Solid Earth, Ecosystems, Climate, Health, Water Instruments: -band interferometric synthetic aperture radar, L laser altimeter Benefits: Observations of the effects of changing climate and land use on species habitats, ecosystems, and carbon storage in vegetation Data on the response of ice sheets to climate change and the resulting impact on sea level Improved forecasts of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides Changes in the height of features on Earthâs surface serve as important indicators of crucial geophysical processes. Surface deformation is linked directly to earth- quakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides; it can also occur when fluids are injected underground to stimulate production from oil and gas reserves. Ice sheets deform in response to changes in temperature and precipitation, providing clues to large-scale melt that can raise global sea levels. The changing height of a forest canopy can serve as a proxy for the amount of carbon it stores. Each of these variables will be assessed globally through DESDynI. The key instrument is an inter- ferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). The InSARâs resolution of better than 35 meters will allow it to depict tectonic faults and surface deformation with high precision. These data will help scientists to better calculate the near-surface strain that accumulates between earthquakes, the migration of magma toward volcanos, and the kinematics of landslides. InSAR data will also help document the dynamics that shape the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, as well as their melt rates and resulting sea-level rise. The second DESDynI instrument is a multibeam laser altimeter, operating in the infrared range. It will collect data from specific points on Earthâs surface to supplement the InSARâs broader sweep. Together, the instruments will be able to characterize the three- dimensional structure of forests, from which estimates of carbon storage can be obtained.
