Washington Agricultural Monitoring (WAAM)
Scope and Goals
Our target is to monitor agriculture and to locate and keep track of natural disasters such as short and long term droughts, floods and persistent snow which impair agriculture in Washington state. The satellite-based monitoring system produces objective, timely information affecting agriculture. It is implementing a user-friendly system that will allow for the integration and analysis of remote sensing data products in agricultural decision support system. Our focus regions are the State of Washington, especially, the Yakima Basin.
Application of Remote Sensing Data to WAAM
This website presents an operational near real-time estimation of evapotranspiration using remote sensing data. The website uses data mainly from Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). MODIS is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board the Terra (EOS AM) Satellite, and in 2002 on board the Aqua (EOS PM) satellite. Downward short-wave radiation and cloud cover data are taken from GEWEX Continental Scale International Project (GCIP) and GEWEX Americas Prediction Project (GAPP) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Data. The primary focus of this research is to estimate land surface evapotranspiration from remote sensing data. Our special interest is to achieve a near real-time crop water use estimation using remote sensing.
ET Monitoring
