Is SMD Paying Attention to White House Priorities?

That's a tad surprising considering the climate-change ramifications of volcanic eruptions. All of NASA's applicable assets should be using this opportunity to gather data.

I would think they have an interest to View this event. I would be suprised if they did not get some sort of effort going even a aircraft would be a start.

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/programs/earth-systematic-missions
The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) Program includes a broad range of multi-disciplinary science investigations aimed at developing a scientific understanding of the Earth system and its response to natural and human-induced forces. Understanding these forces will help in determining how to mitigate them, appropriately and where possible, to avoid climate changes.
The regional consequences of these forces--e.g., changes in precipitation patterns, length of growing seasons, severity of storms, change of sea level--must be understood to determine which aspects of climate change are most harmful and how to adapt to those changes that cannot be mitigated.

I have one word for why it's not up there: bureaucracy. I'm sure none of the dozen or so approvals to just get a request in to the right people have happened yet.

Don't worry the before images will be up there days after the eruption.

This is absurd. Keith, what's your problem with SMD these days? So SMD is considered irresponsible because they're not posting pictures of a volcano on their website? "If for no other reason to show that they are paying attention to the White House." Give me a break. If the White House specifically asked them to do this, which you snarkily imply that they must have, I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't.

Sorry, but the main goals of SMD don't include putting pictures on websites to prove that they're obeying the White House.

BTW, it'll be a while before SMD sees any of the money in the as yet unpassed stimulus package you're accusing Weiler of ignoring.

Slow news day, I guess.

Editor's note: sigh, another clueless NASA Watch reader.

Sad but not surprising in SMD 2009. But in 2007, SMD worked hard to help during the California wildfires, deploying both airborne and spaceborne NASA assets at the direction of their AA Stern and Earth Science director Freilich. Ed could learn from that.

To echo Keith and GSFCTerra, re: aircraft. The NASA Airborne Science Program has reacted to such events in the past. The DC-8, ER-2, and even the MQ-9 Ikhana can offer sustained surveillance and remote sensing high above the ash plume, much longer than a fleeting satellite pass.

It seems to me the reason we have global warming is because the source of it is Al Gore. His hot air is striking especially recently. His scam is to justify his money making ventures. He should be transported to say MARS and let his hot air do its magic there where it is warming at an equal rate as Earth already. Then we can watch the Earth cool dramatically.

Editor's note: sigh, another clueless NASA Watch reader.

Well there certainly is some cluelessness here. What in the world makes you think that because there are no images posted on the website that Earth Science folks at NASA aren't considering opportunities to study this volcano? Have you actually been told by NASA people that a decision has been made NOT to react to such an eruption, if it happens? You seem to be vaguely implying that, without actually saying it. Of course, once such pictures show up, you'll claim credit for having spurred NASA into responsiveness, right?

Editor's note: Why yes, oh clueless one, I have checked.

If NASA wanted to show that they are really paying attention to the White House, they'll put up a montage of pig farms and pork processing plants as seen from space.

I've seen references to very recent work on Redoubt by Terra, Aqua, and TOMS. If someone is telling you that NASA isn't using its Earth Science missions to follow it, they would be wrong. Perhaps this is an issue of degree of involvement?

Keith -- Once this eruption occurs, NASA satellites will start observing it and images will be posted widely for the public to see. NASA's Science Mission Directorate funds the very popular "Earth Observatory" Web site, where natural hazard observations have been posted for years. Visit the "Volcanoes & Earthquakes" section for the latest images. -- Steve Cole, NASA Office of Public Affairs
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/category.php?cat_id=12

Thanks Steve

Excellent website
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/category.php?cat_id=12

This should be very interesting to watch with the plume and it's distribution via the weather dynamics at this latitude
Given the history of the activity and the dynamics of solar energy with the idea of a more restrictive earth filter to hold heat energy with what happens to the core of the earth.

Given the methane study on Mars it appears it also responds to solar dynamics which we do not understand yet.

I hope we can get as much dynamic data as possible on the event

I hope the Geo DOI USGS & NSF people/students are intrumentation the earth soil for measurement also.
http://www.usgs.gov/
also DOC NOAA
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/
to get the database set with comparable measurments for anyone that has data would be a great step forward in Earth Science

Just for the record most NASA earth satellites are in constant imaging mode. Just because the pretty pictures are not posted does not mean they do not exist. They do exist and can be retrieved from any number of interfaces including the one already mentioned. What would having them posted on some website show anyhow? Just politics?

The big missions (TERRA, AQUA and AURA) constantly have most instruments on and are recording data. There are many Near Real Time systems pumping these images out within 6-12 hours of acquisition. The jointly operated sensors that would capture the 'best' images Landsat (ok jointly run with USGS) and ICESat are limping along. Here's to more funding.