Moon Trees with Apollo and Artemis and Space-based Tree Height with ICESat-2 and Ground-based Tree Height with the GLOBE Program and the NASA Moon Trees Quest

Speakers: 

John D. Davis, Jr. – Education Specialist II, NASA Next Gen STEM Program, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Brian A. Campbell – NASA Senior Earth Science Specialist and GLOBE Observer Trees Science Lead, Earth Science Division, NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia

Elizabeth Sebastian, M.Ed. - Education Specialist II, NASA Next Gen STEM Program, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Agenda:

• John: Discuss the Moon Apollo Moon Tree Program and the Artemis Moon Project (20 minutes).
• Brian: Discuss how NASA measures tree height from space and how folks can measure tree heights from the ground and why tree height is important (40 minutes).
• Brian and John or Elizabeth: Discuss the current NASA Moon Trees Quest (15 minutes)
• Q&A with participants (15 minutes)

Learn about the Apollo 14 Moon Trees Program, the current Artemis Moon Trees Program, and how you can get involved with the NASA Moon Trees Quest by using GLOBE Observer.  The NASA Moon Trees Quest is a collaboration between the GLOBE Program’s GLOBE Observer, NASA Next Gen STEM, USDA Forest Service, and is part of a collaborative STEM Engagement initiative to inspire the Artemis generation.

Even if you don’t have a moon tree at your park or natural area, you can use GLOBE Observer Trees to take observations of the height of trees that match the species of the moon trees. This can engage your entire community through the app! This information informs NASA scientists about the biomass and carbon sequestration of your local ecosystem.

Why is measuring tree height important? Tree height is the most widely used indicator of an ecosystem’s ability to grow trees. Observing tree height, from space with a satellite mission such as ICESat-2 and from the ground with the GLOBE Program, allows NASA scientists to understand the gain or loss of biomass which can inform calculations of the carbon that trees and forests either take in from or release into the atmosphere. Tracking how trees are changing over time can help us estimate the number of trees that make up an area. 

Links

• NASA Next Gen STEM
• Artemis Moon Trees
• NASA Moon Trees Quest
• GLOBE Observer Trees
• ICESat-2
• Coming Soon! Back to School Info-Session for Artemis Moon Trees: August 17th, 2023, 4-5pm CDT via Microsoft Teams - Meeting ID: 286 004 516 782, Passcode: rjK5iu, Teams join link