LSU’s Earth Scan Laboratory (ESL) recently launched
a new Web site in celebration of its 17 years in operation
and the expansion of the ESL facilities. The new Web site,
www.esl.lsu.edu, provides “real–time satellite
movie loops of current weather, storm motion, and ocean
currents based on measurements of the GOES–East satellite,
as well as historic animations of deadly hurricanes.”
Real–time hurricane track predictions and beautiful
true–color MODIS satellite images of July 2005 hurricanes
Dennis and Emily are available on the “Hurricanes”
link.
ESL Director Nan Walker, associate professor in SC&E
Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences (DOCS)
and the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), said “we
use the measurements from several satellite sensors (Terra
MODIS, Aqua MODIS, Oceansat OCM) to produce true–color
images that provide incredible detail on vegetation, water
quality, suspended sediments, and algal blooms from Louisiana
to Mexico and the Bahamas. In support of research and education,
we have developed techniques for quantifying surface sediments,
temperature, and chlorophyll a using our satellite products.
We have also developed novel ways of “de-clouding”
temperature imagery so that we can map temperatures in the
Gulf of Mexico and track ocean features even during summer.”
LSU Professor Emeritus Oscar Huh and other CSI faculty established
ESL in 1988 with an initial grant from the Louisiana Education
Quality Support Fund, making it the first university–based
receiving station in the United States to be established
through state funds. ESL provides support to Louisiana decision
makers with satellite data of hurricanes, oil spills in
the Gulf of Mexico, large brush and forest fires, and flooding.
The oil and gas industry and commercial fisheries frequently
request ESL images and data on ocean temperatures and currents,
algal blooms, and coastal fog.
Walker and ESL got front–page coverage in The Advocate
on July 15 in an article by Mike Dunne. A link to the story
is available on the ESL Web site, as are beautiful, informative
satellite images, information about the satellites and software
used at ESL, a brief history of the laboratory, and a wealth
of other information.
