Nine new Dutch Earth observation research projects funded

The Dutch Research Council NWO has awarded funding to nine new research proposals in the area of Earth observation. The new projects will investigate for example geothermal energy, the navigation of songbirds and a historical set of aerial images of the Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers involved will receive the grant from the User Support Programme Space Research, which the Netherlands Space Office NSO realises on behalf of NWO.

The nine Earth observation projects will add to our scientific knowledge about the climate and the environment and will therefore serve both a scientific and societal interest. In this funding round, the selection committee assessed 45 proposals. With the nine proposals awarded funding, the total budget for this call is about 2.6 million euros.

Project awards

Fingerprinting vertical land motion from the earthquake cycle above subduction zones

Dr R.M.A. Govers, Utrecht University
Sea level changes continuously and sometimes very fast in coastal regions where the largest earthquakes occur occasionally. This project investigates a new method for forecasting these earthquake cycle-related vertical motions of the solid earth that cause the relative sea level changes. This is important for designing harbour and coastal defence infrastructures.

PACE-ACI: Using the PACE mission for improved quantification of aerosol-cloud interactions

Dr O. Hasekamp, SRON
Aerosols are small particles in the atmosphere that affect climate by reflecting and absorbing sunlight (direct effect) and by changing the properties of clouds (indirect effect). In this project the effect of aerosols on clouds will be investigated, making use of the new NASA PACE Earth observation satellite (see image).

A fully-focussed SAR altimetry coastal water level processor – application to the Rhine region of freshwater influence

Dr D.C. Slobbe, TU Delft
This project aims to develop a processing scheme for SAR altimeter data that provides high-resolution coastal water levels. The data will be used to assess the water level variability in the Rhine region of freshwater influence.

A Geothermal hotspot detection from Space Station-based ECOSTRESS data (GeoHot)

Dr C.A. Hecker, Twente University
Geothermal energy is one of the sustainable resources that will power our future. This research will use data acquired from the International Space Station to test a novel approach for mapping small temperature variations at the Earth’s surface. The results will help explore for new geothermal systems in the subsurface.

Satellite subsidence and sea-level data assimilation for mean high-water line assessment in the Bangkok area

Dr F.C. Vossepoel, TU Delft
Subsidence caused by groundwater production and sea-level rise affect the coastline of Bangkok, Thailand, and increases flood risk in this area. By combining satellite observations with model forecasts, subsidence and sea-level rise can be better estimated, which ultimately helps to prevent and mitigate flooding.

Towards understanding the migratory system of birds: a modern displacement experiment using the ICARUS ISS Utilization

Dr H. van der Jeugd, NIOO-KNAW
Using novel ICARUS-technology from the ISS, this project builds on a classic field-experiment to study how juvenile songbirds develop navigation from an innate clock-and-compass orientation system. 1000 migrating songbirds will be tracked, a part of which will be translocated to Switzerland to assess whether they correct for this and how they respond to natural disturbances.

Antarctic Time Machine: unveiling five decades of ice sheet changes

Dr B. Wouters, TU Delft
In this project, the vast potential of a historical set of aerial images will be unlocked to derive long-term changes in ice elevation of the Antarctic Peninsula. This will yield a unique insight into the response of Antarctic glaciers to a rapidly changing climate.

Regions of HIgh SeismiC Hazard: IdentificatIon of Fault Deformation Transients in the Neotectonic Framework of Central and North Sulawesi, Indonesia (RISC2IDNSI)

Prof P.N.A.M. Visser, TU Delft
This project employs space‐geodetic techniques and advanced geophysical models to investigate the long‐term (1992‐2022) seismic behaviour of the Palu‐Koro fault in Sulawesi, Eastern Indonesia. This active fault generated a large (Mw 7.5) earthquake in 2018 through Palu city, followed by an unexpected and devastating tsunami in the Palu Bay.

Looking from space to lower levels of the foodweb in Wadden systems

Dr E.A. Addink, Utrecht University
Wadden systems are important feeding areas for fish and birds, threatened by economic activities and climate change. Monitoring is hampered by tidal submergence and low accessibility of mudflats, and snails, worms and shells preferring the subsurface. With satellite/drone images and machine learning, this project will map food availability in the system.

Note: This article was originally published in Dutch and English on the NWO website on 14 September 2020.