DMCii announced the selection of five science projects that will receive free satellite imagery from the DMC satellite constellation.

Greenland GlacierIn December 2008, scientists were invited to compete for the opportunity to use the DMC multi-spectral satellite image data in their research projects.

Applications were judged on their contribution to international environmental research by a panel of scientists chaired by Professor Alan O’Neill, Director of the UK’s National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) the panel included Dr Arwyn Davies, Head of Earth Observation at the British National Space Centre (BSNC), Dr Paul Aplin (Chairman of RSPSoc and Associate Professor Nottingham University), Dr Steve Mackin, Chief Scientist DMCii and David Hodgson, Managing Director DMCii.

The winning projects cover a wide range of important topics: from monitoring changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet and the UK wetlands and forests, to pioneering new techniques for integrating satellite Earth observations with computer models to improve measurements of how the Earth’s vegetation ‘breathes’ carbon dioxide. Congratulations to the following winning science teams:

• Monitoring Dynamic Change in the Greenland Ice Sheet
  A. Luckman (Swansea University)
• Testing Data Assimilation Schemes
  JJ Settle (University of Reading), P North (University of Swansea), T Quaife (University College London)
• Assessing Seasonal Water and Restoration Status of Wetland Habitats
  Dr G Smith (Specto Natura Ltd), Dr F Hughes & Dr P Stroh (Anglia Ruskin University), Dr P Aplin (University of Nottingham)
• Validation of MODIS NPP (Net Primary Productivity) Product for Tropical Areas
  Dr M Cutler (University of Dundee), Prof A Cracknell, Assoc Prof AL Ibrahim, Dr K Haron
• Monitoring of Vegetation Phenological Change and Health
  Dr R Guisa (University of Surrey), Dr R Pitman (Centre for Forestry & Climate Change (FR))