Transform the Trajectory of a Student’s Life: Support ARCS’ Fishing Rod Internship Program



Transform the Trajectory of a Student’s Life: Support ARCS’ Fishing Rod Internship Program



CSUN ARCS

Research Project

Affect Of Rivers On Ocean Conditions
In US Coastal Areas

(Are rivers changing ocean conditions in coastal areas: analysis of Chlorophyl a and salinity of three rivers in the USA )

Research Team

Lead Researchers:

  • Dr. Mario Giraldo Professor in GIS and Remote Sensing applications to
    ecological analysis

Collaborators:

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology Faculty:
    • Dr. Joe Roberts Software engineering leader specializing in the development of GIS and data visualization at JPL
    • Dr. Latha Baskaran Geospatial scientist at JPL
    • Dr. Jorge Vazquez Project Scientist at NASA’s JPL

Student Team:

  • Andrea Flores, B.S. Student in Environmental Science
  • Swany Cuc, B.S. Student in Geographic Information Science
  • Yashira Alamanza B.S. in Computer Science

Funding

  • Funding Organization:
  • Funding Program:

SYNOPSIS

  • Current research has used remote sensing products to study oceanic relationships and processes, but is mixed on the relationship between salinity and chlorophyll-a.
  • The study aims to better understand the relationship between
    chlorophyll-a and salinity at coastal watersheds around the
    US using remote sensing products.
Image collage
Research Questions & Research Objectives

  • Purpose: Investigate the relationship between chlorophyll-a, sea surface salinity, and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

  • Temporal relationship: The relationship changes monthly by season or yearly by ENSO strength.

  • Data Visualization: Create an ArcGIS StoryMaps to summarize the study and importance of research using satellite imagery.

Research Methods

  • NASA Satellite Imagery: OISSS in PO.DAAC & MODIS OB.DAAC

  • Observe Relationship at Different Latitudes: Mississippi River, San Joaquin River, Columbia River.

  • Temporal: Analyze monthly-averages of salinity and chlorophyll-a range from 2012-2022.

  • ArcGIS Pro Tools: Analysis and mapping tools.

  • Excel: Analyze and create graphs of descriptive statistics.

Research Deliverables and Products

  • Inconclusive temporal averages alludes to the possibility that the two variables do not correlate or may correlate spatially rather than temporally.

  • Sea surface salinity and chlorophyll-a inhabit an incredibly dynamic environment which can make analyzing their relationship difficult.

  • Further research into how other oceanic processes may affect the sea surface salinity and chlorophyll-a.

Research Timeline

Start Date: 
End Date: 

Research Team

Lead Researchers:

  • Dr. Mario Giraldo Professor in GIS and Remote Sensing applications to
    ecological analysis

Collaborators:

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology Faculty:
    • Dr. Joe Roberts Software engineering leader specializing in the development of GIS and data visualization at JPL
    • Dr. Latha Baskaran Geospatial scientist at JPL
    • Dr. Jorge Vazquez Project Scientist at NASA’s JPL

Student Team:

  • Andrea Flores, B.S. Student in Environmental Science
  • Swany Cuc, B.S. Student in Geographic Information Science
  • Yashira Alamanza B.S. in Computer Science

Funding

  • Funding Organization:
  • Funding Program: