are planted while they’ re being planted. On other farms, drones help collect specific data. They fly over fields to help measure things like plant height and field performance while rovers assist in the data-collection process. Using advanced precision technology, farmers crunch data collected through sensors that suggests seeds to use and optimal planting strategies, and even minimizes environmental impact.
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SPACE MAPPING THE OCEAN
Space mapping uses relevant existing knowledge to speed up model generation and design optimization of a system. Scientists are learning about the weather and its patterns by studying the ocean from above. Using remote sensing data and computer models, these scientists can see how the oceans affect the evolution of weather, hurricanes, and climate.
As they heat and cool, they humidify and dry the air and control wind speed and direction. Being able to see and analyze this through Big Data gives scientists better prediction modeling, which in turn, helps us better prepare for“ weather events.”
THE PACIFIC“ BLOB”
“ The Blob” is the name given to a large mass of warm water in the Pacific Ocean. In late 2013, scientists found that the temperature in the Gulf o f Alaska was warmer than usual. Then, warmer waters started appearing off the west coast of the United States. The warming continued along the California coast and other parts of the Pacific during most of 2015 and into 2016. In some places, temperatures were more than 10 ° F above average.
A team of scientists has mapped the Blob from space using data from multiple satellites from several countries. They traced the changes in temperature and wind on the Pacific Ocean’ s surface from 2014 to 2016 to try and better understand the Blob’ s impact on sea life. During 2013 to 2016 there were unexpected die-offs in California sea lions, Guadalupe fur seals, and a toxic algae bloom that spanned the entire west coast. It’ s amazing to think that a piece of software from space can tell us what’ s happening on our ocean floors.
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10 | CURRENT SPRING 2017