ECOSTRESS

ECOSTRESS is the Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station. It is a NASA mission designed to measure the temperature of plants and use this information to better understand how much water plants are using and how they are affected by stress. Specifically, ECOSTRESS measures evapotranspiration, which is the process by which water moves from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration.

Mission Objectives:

The primary objectives of the ECOSTRESS mission include:

• Determining terrestrial ecosystem vulnerability to global environmental change through improved monitoring of plant water stress.
• Tracking how ecosystems are changing over days, weeks, and seasons.
• Providing insight into how plants are responding to various environmental factors such as heat waves, droughts, and changes in irrigation practices.
• Improving our ability to predict future ecosystem changes.

Instrumentation and Data:

ECOSTRESS utilizes a thermal infrared radiometer to measure land surface temperature (LST) at high spatial resolution. The instrument has five spectral bands in the thermal infrared region. The data collected by ECOSTRESS are used to derive estimates of evapotranspiration and water stress at a field scale, enabling scientists to study vegetation health and water use efficiency with unprecedented detail. Data are made publicly available through NASA data centers.

Significance:

ECOSTRESS data is crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and water resources. The information gathered can be used to improve water management strategies, agricultural practices, and our understanding of the carbon cycle. It also aids in monitoring drought conditions and predicting crop yields. By observing plant water stress from space, ECOSTRESS provides valuable insights into the health and sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems in a changing world.

Platform:

The ECOSTRESS instrument is mounted on the International Space Station (ISS), allowing it to observe the Earth's surface at different times of day and from various viewing angles, which provides a more comprehensive picture of plant water stress compared to traditional satellite missions in sun-synchronous orbits.