APPENDIX C: SMD EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION - ASSIMILATION OF SATELLITE DATA FOR PREDICTING CYANOHABS IN KANSAS

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) degrade water quality by producing harmful toxins and causing significant diel changes in water column pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The degradation of water quality caused by HABs disrupts food webs, and has negative ecological, social, recreational, and economic impacts. Given the ubiquity and impact of HABs in Kansas, there is a need for large-scale monitoring and prediction of HAB events. However, no clear indicator or predictor for HAB’s in Kansas has been established. In this work, we will assimilate satellite remote sensing data into a 1-D lake model in order to improve predictions of water quality and HAB events. This will be done by first identifying key relationships between satellite data and lake water quality. These relationships will then be used to do a simple assimilation of the relevant satellite data into a lake model. The assimilated state variables will then be used as initial conditions in a forecast system and will be evaluated over a number of sites across Kansas. The proposed work will provide a proof of concept for predicting lake water quality based on satellite remote sensing and will advance the current level of knowledge while providing the basis for future grant proposals and collaboration between the University of Kansas and Goddard Space Flight Center.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.