Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
Shrimp Farms, Ecuador
Original Caption Released with Image:
In many parts of the world, wetlands are being converted to shrimp ponds in order to farm these crustaceans for food and sale. One example is on the west coast of Ecuador, south of Guayaquil. The 1991 Landsat image on top shows a coastal area where 143 square kilometers of wetlands were converted to shrimp ponds. By the time ASTER acquired the bottom image in 2001, 243 square kilometers had been converted, eliminating 83% of the wetlands. These scenes cover an area of 30 x 31 km, and are centered near 3.4 degrees south latitude and 80.2 degrees west longitude.

With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region, and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet.

ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products.

The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER provides scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping, and monitoring of dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats; monitoring potentially active volcanoes; identifying crop stress; determining cloud morphology and physical properties; wetlands evaluation; thermal pollution monitoring; coral reef degradation; surface temperature mapping of soils and geology; and measuring surface heat balance.

The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Size: 30 by 31 kilometers (18.6 by 19.2 miles)
Location: 3.4 degrees South latitude, 80.2 degrees West longitude
Orientation: North at top
Image Data: Landsat bands 4,3 and 2; ASTER bands 3, 2, and 1
Original Data Resolution: Landsat 30 meters (24.6 feet); ASTER 15 meters (49.2 feet)
Dates Acquired: Landsat: April 29, 1991; ASTER March 31, 2001
Image Credit:
NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDA C/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
Earth Observing System (EOS)
Spacecraft:
Terra
Target Name:
Earth
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
ASTER
Product Size:
2200 samples x 4020 lines
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Terra
facet_what:
Earth Observing System
facet_what:
EOS
facet_what:
Landsat
facet_what:
ASTER
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
facet_where:
Japan
facet_where:
Ecuador
facet_where:
Guayaquil
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_when:
2001
facet_when:
December 18, 1999
facet_when:
April 29, 1991
facet_when:
March 31, 2001
facet_when_year:
1999
facet_when_year:
1991
facet_when_year:
2001
Image #:
PIA01911
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA01911
orignial url:

Shrimp Farms, Ecuador