Grants and Contributions

This grant is allocated following the AstroSat2020 directed Announcement of Opportunity. It will support the data analysis effort of Canadian guest observers with AstroSat for a project entitled ‘A FUV Survey of Virgo Cluster Galaxies.'

Current satellites capable of detecting soil moisture are well validated for low vegetation areas, however, they have less accuracy in forested regions such as the boreal forest. In this research we will perform a soil moisture measurement campaign in a boreal forest to improve soil moisture estimates from two satellite missions: NASA's SMAP and ESA's SMOS. Our improved soil moisture estimates will be used to update models used by Environment and Climate Change Canada for weather, drought and forest fire prediction.

The project will use satellite, model, and ground-based data to characterise the extent and variability of mineral dust aerosol (MDA) in the atmosphere above northern Canada, and identify the sources from which it is emitted at the surface. The impact of MDA on the radiation budget and clouds – both important components of the climate system – will be quantified, as will its contribution to air quality indicators. The project also involves validation of several Canadian-led/partnered satellite-based systems that measure aerosol and cloud properties.

The boreal biome constitutes an integral component of the climate system. Our limited quantitative understanding of coupled carbon and water fluxes hampers reliably predicting the boreal biome response to projected increases in disturbance frequency and intensity. This project will enhance the ecological realism of the boreal biome in a terrestrial biosphere model (CLASSIC). After exploring empirical relationships between microwave vegetation optical depth (VOD) and tree hydraulic traits, we will introduce a tree hydraulics scheme into CLASSIC. Next, we will use regional VOD-derived tree hydraulic traits to constrain past, present and future flux simulations with CLASSIC across the boreal biome.

In this proposal, we will combine satellite measurements and a high-resolution model to address two questions about Canadian air quality and greenhouse gas emissions: 1. How well can satellite measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) constrain Boreal forest fire emissions and improve the current state-of-the-art Boreal fire emissions models? 2. How well can satellite measurements of methane (CH4) reduce uncertainty on Canada's anthropogenic methane emissions?

The ocean currents of the Northwest Atlantic show a substantial variability. Accurate forecast systems need to support a range of applications such as emergency response, search and rescue and, transportation. However, the extent to which forecasts are accurate is limited by the presently available satellite observations. SWOT mission may improve this situation, provided the data can be assimilated adequately. We will use SWOT and other satellite data to provide improved forecasts for the Canadian East Coast, using a numerical computer model. New developments in this project will be directly transferrable to the ECCC Prediction System.

In recent decades, relative humidity over land has fallen, significantly worsening drought and wildfire. However, how land dryness and air masses interact to induce drier climatic conditions is unclear. Recently, we developed a novel evaporation model that characterizes land-atmosphere feedback processes. In this project, we will adapt this model to satellite land dryness observations, allowing us to estimate evapotranspiration across Canada and globally, and investigate physical mechanisms inducing drier climate. We will also develop a robust drought index to aid in water management and fire risk identification, and in planning potential adaptation strategies to drier climatic conditions.

The project develops a new Earth system analytical model “CAN-TG” which utilises satellite data from a number of Canadian sensors or missions to predict carbon and moisture dynamics of key Canadian terrestrial ecosystems, including wetlands and at the northern tree line. Key strengths of new model is its fine spatial and temporal scale and its verification using existing Canadian datasets. This project has been developed as a collaboration between academia, the Canadian Forest Service and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Following the Announcement of Opportunity published on Dec. 18, 2020, the CSA is providing funding via a Grant Agreement to the university to allow one of its scientists to participate in the 2022 ExoMars Rover mission in the role of co-investigator.

Following the Announcement of Opportunity published on Dec. 18, 2020, the CSA is providing funding via a Grant Agreement to the university to allow one of its scientists to participate in the Euclid mission in the role of co-investigator.