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NASA’s C-20A Aircraft: A Vital Tool for Disaster Response and Research

As the planet faces increasingly severe weather events such as hurricanes, landslides, and wildfires, scientists are in urgent need of accurate data to assess the impacts of these disasters and improve predictions for future hazards. NASA’s C-20A aircraft has emerged as a crucial resource, equipped to carry advanced instruments that enhance our understanding of these phenomena.

Operating out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, the C-20A—a military variant of the Gulfstream III business jet—performs various Earth science missions in an airborne research capacity.

In October, the C-20A was dispatched to conduct aerial surveys over regions ravaged by Hurricane Milton, which struck the Florida coast as a category 3 storm, bringing winds of up to 120 miles per hour, along with heavy rainfall, lightning, and a series of tornadoes. Following the hurricane’s passage, the aircraft was equipped with the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) to gather extensive data on the resulting flood zones.

“Our focus was specifically on inland river flooding that affected populated areas, aiming to collect data that could guide future disaster response and preparedness efforts,” explained Starr Ginn, project manager for the C-20A. “This rapid response to Hurricane Milton showcased a successful collaboration between our scientific team and aircraft operators.”

The UAVSAR, designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory situated in Southern California, employs a technique known as interferometry to detect slight changes in the Earth’s surface. This method leverages intersecting wavelengths to generate precise measurements, effectively capturing terrain alterations resulting from extreme weather events.

When utilized aboard an aircraft, the UAVSAR offers enhanced detail compared to satellite-based radar systems. “Where satellites may provide data intervals of one to two weeks, the UAVSAR can capture data points swiftly, filling gaps between satellite passes to ensure accurate calibration with ground measurements,” Ginn noted. “By conducting flights in overlapping patterns, we can capture intricate textures and movements on the Earth’s surface, significantly improving upon the more limited one-dimensional measurements that single flights can provide.”

In addition to its work with Hurricane Milton, the C-20A also surveyed the Portuguese Bend landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes. This landslide, which began its formation over 11,000 years ago, became reactivated in the 1950s due to construction activities adding weight to its top. Recently, its movement rates have accelerated during drier seasons.

NASA’s JPL team, including scientists Xiang Li, Alexander Handwerger, Gilles Peltzer, and Eric Fielding, has been studying the landslide’s progression using satellite technologies. “The precise high-resolution capabilities of UAVSAR render it particularly effective for monitoring landslides, which can exhibit relatively small features,” stated Ginn. “This tool enhances our understanding of the unique properties of the landslide’s structure.”

Moreover, the C-20A has played a pivotal role in wildfire research, particularly within the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE), a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The C-20A’s flights provided critical data for studying fire dynamics and smoke dispersion.

“The airborne vantage point enables FASMEE researchers to gain deeper insights into fire behavior and the resulting smoke,” remarked Michael Falkowski, program manager for NASA’s Applied Sciences Wildland Fire program. “The hope is that this data will assist in reducing fire risks, helping to restore damaged ecosystems and protecting communities from devastating wildfires.”

Collecting airborne data can significantly enhance scientists’ and decision-makers’ comprehension of extreme weather phenomena. FASMEE researchers plan to leverage UAVSAR data to analyze forest composition and moisture levels, track areas impacted by wildfires, and study the progression of fire incidents.

“We aim to determine how fire management teams can utilize airborne data to inform their firefighting strategies,” added Jacquelyn Shuman, FireSense project scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California.

Source
www.nasa.gov