Many scientists are interested in using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data to monitor the motion of Earth’s surface, but the analyses required can be complex, and the data are often challenging to work with. To simplify these analyses, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) team has created an OPERA Surface Displacement (OPERA-DISP) dataset. This dataset provides InSAR-derived surface displacement measurements across most of North America and is now available via NASA’s Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center (ASF DAAC). To support data users working with this product, ASF DAAC has also launched the ASF Displacement Portal — an open-source web interface that offers intuitive spatial browsing and direct exploration of the OPERA-DISP dataset. In this webinar, learn more about the OPERA-DISP product and the portal that enables its exploration. The OPERA-DISP solution is a deliverable of the Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG), an interagency effort of the U.S. Government dedicated to identifying and addressing Earth observation needs across U.S. civilian federal agencies. link:  

A Swiss Alpine village has been buried by a massive debris field after a glacier collapsed on a nearby mountain. Reuters reports that 90% of Blatten, Switzerland is engulfed by ice, mud, and rock after what scientists suspect is a dramatic display of the impact of climate change on mountain communities. "It’s critical to realize that we now have left the space of historical precedence and entered an era where we face new hazards from locations that have never been a problem in the past and where protection may be technically hardly possible or financially unfeasible," Christian Huggel, a professor of environment and climate at the University of Zurich, told USA TODAY via email. The community of 300 had been evacuated prior to the collapse of the Birch Glacier, but at least one 64-year-old man is still missing. Police suspended search efforts on May 29 citing instability in the debris. Making matters worse for the already devastated area, Reuters reports that a river blocked by glacial debris is raising the possibility of flooding and additional evacuations. The below video, satellite images, maps and photos show how the disaster unfolded.   https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/qHIbZCL2oEM?si=ZMv4QQKPEBayn2dE  

This tool now also has a Python script. 😊

The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) Earth Observing Satellites Online Compendium contains details about past, present and future Earth observing satellites and the sensors they carry.   Derived from print versions of Compendiums published in 2019, 2020, and 2022, this resource has been developed and is managed by the Requirements, Capabilities and Analysis for Earth Observation (RCA-EO) team at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) Earth Observing Satellites Online Compendium is derived from three print versions published in 2019, 2020, and 2022. This compendium provides detailed information on past, current and future land remote sensing satellites and their sensors. The data will be updated regularly as new satellites are launched into space. Visit this USGS webpage for more information on using the compendium. Comments, corrections, and further information on systems for inclusion in this compendium are welcomed and can be sent to [email protected]. The print and online compendia are developed by staff supporting the Requirements, Capabilities and Analysis for Earth Observation (RCA-EO) and the EROS Cal/Val Center of Excellence (ECCOE) projects at U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center and is done in conjunction with the multi-agency JACIE consortium. The content of the Compendium is updated weekly. The overall application was last updated February 2024. Please use this suggested citation when referencing the Compendium: Kropuenske, T., Clauson, J., Shaw, J., Vrabel, J., Ali, M., Ranjitkar, B., Rusten, T., and Anderson, C., 2024, Earth Observing Sensing Satellites Online Compendium: U.S. Geological Survey digital data, https://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/compendium. source: https://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/compendium