It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Green warriors: plants on the frontline against microplastics
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE
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Possible mechanisms and technological process of micro/nanoplastics phytoremediation. The plastics absorbed and intercepted by plants can be recycled through different processes for incineration power generation, reuse, or degradation through other chemical and biological measures.
In an innovative ecological article, researchers have unveiled the potential of phytoremediation to curb microplastic pollution. This approach leverages natural plant processes to absorb and diminish micro and nanoplastics, offering a viable solution for managing environmental plastic pollution. This viewpoint advocates utilizing plant life as an effective tool against the widespread issue of plastic contamination in ecosystems.
With escalating concerns about the enduring impact of plastic waste, phytoremediation emerges as a promising solution. This method utilizes plants to capture and degrade pollutants, providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional techniques. As plastics continue to inundate ecosystems worldwide, advancing phytoremediation could revolutionize our environmental management strategies. Addressing these challenges, there is an essential demand for comprehensive research to enhance and apply phytoremediation effectively.
Proposed by the Hubei Key Laboratory of Wetland Evolution & Ecological Restoration, this pivotal perspective (DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.04.001), published in Eco-Environment & Health on April 16, 2024, explores how plants can alleviate micro/nanoplastic pollution. The research identifies possible mechanisms and technological pathways for phytoremediation to combat plastic pollution, potentially delivering a sustainable solution for polluted environments across terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric realms.
This novel perspective evaluates the potential of different types of plants to capture, stabilize, and filter micro and nanoplastics. Targeted hyperaccumulators are expected to significantly lower plastic concentrations, thus preventing their further spread. The perspective delves into the application of phytoaccumulation, phytostabilization, and phytofiltration across diverse environmental settings. By strategically selecting and positioning these plants, they not only sequester harmful plastics but also convert them into harmless or useful forms, marking a substantial advance in sustainable plastic remediation.
Dr. Yuyi Yang, the study's lead researcher, underscores its transformative potential, stating, "Phytoremediation isn't merely a technique; it's a sustainable revolution in our battle against plastic pollution. By harnessing plant-based solutions, we are able to lessen the environmental burden of plastics, turning waste into valuable resources and fostering a healthier planet."
The study's findings are significant, advocating for the integration of phytoremediation within existing waste management frameworks to boost both efficacy and sustainability. This strategy not only reduces pollution but also aids in ecosystem recovery, enhancing biodiversity and ecological health. The research calls for expanding phytoremediation practices, highlighting the necessity for holistic strategies that encompass prevention, interception, and recycling of plastics using advanced green technologies.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201391 and 42107048) and the Special Research Assistant Project, Chinese Academy of Sciences (E1291P02). E.G.B. X acknowledges the support of the Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, and Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond (0165-00056B).
Eco-Environment & Health (EEH)is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal designed for publications on the frontiers of the ecology, environment and health as well as their related disciplines. EEH focuses on the concept of "One Health" to promote green and sustainable development, dealing with the interactions among ecology, environment and health, and the underlying mechanisms and interventions. Our mission is to be one of the most important flagship journals in the field of environmental health.
The power of green: Harnessing phytoremediation to combat micro/nanoplastics
Green light for accurate vegetation research: new evaluation of global SIF datasets
Journal of Remote Sensing
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Spatial distribution patterns of trends in GPP and SIF during the growing season. (A) RF–GPP; (B) FLUXCOM–GPP; (C) SIF averaged; (D) CSIFalldaily 757 nm; (E) CSIFcleardaily 757 nm; (F) GOSIF 757 nm. Black dotted areas indicate statistically significant anomalies (M–K test, P < 0.05). The lower left panel represents the histogram of trend distribution. The right panel shows the correlation scatterplot of the SIF and GPP. A brighter color indicates a higher density.
A recent study has pinpointed the top-performing solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) products for precise global monitoring of photosynthesis and vegetation dynamics. By thoroughly evaluating eight widely-used SIF datasets, the research team identified Global OCO-2 SIF (GOSIF) and Contiguous Solar-Induced Fluorescence (CSIF) as leading tools for estimating gross primary productivity (GPP) and forecasting key phenological stages. These findings provide crucial direction for scientists aiming to enhance global vegetation monitoring and deepen our understanding of Earth’s ecological processes, marking a significant leap in refining tools for tracking the planet’s green pulse.
Vegetation is vital for climate regulation and ecological stability, yet global monitoring of its photosynthetic activity remains challenging. Traditional methods, relying on vegetation indices, often fail to capture the intricate dynamics of photosynthesis, especially under varying environmental conditions. These challenges highlight the need for more direct indicators, such as solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), which offers a promising pathway for accurately tracking vegetation productivity and phenology on a global scale.
Conducted by Peking University and published in Journal of Remote Sensing on July 23, 2024, this study (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0173) offers a comprehensive evaluation of eight global SIF products. The research focuses on assessing these products’ ability to estimate GPP and predict vegetation phenology. Through meticulous comparisons with GPP datasets and phenological observations, the study reveals the strengths and limitations of each SIF product, providing valuable insights for remote sensing and global vegetation monitoring experts.
The study conducted a detailed analysis of eight SIF products derived from various satellite missions, including OCO-2, GOSAT, MetOp, and TROPOMI, each with unique spatiotemporal resolutions and inversion algorithms. By comparing these products against GPP datasets such as FLUXNET, FLUXCOM, and RF-GPP, the researchers identified GOSIF (757 nm) and CSIF datasets as superior in capturing the spatiotemporal variability of global GPP. These datasets excelled particularly in representing the GPP of deciduous broadleaf forests, mixed forests, and evergreen needleleaf forests. The research also found that SIF products were more reliable in predicting the start of the growing season than the end or duration. This systematic evaluation underscores the importance of selecting appropriate SIF products for large-scale vegetation studies and lays the groundwork for future advancements in SIF data refinement.
Dr. Zaichun Zhu, the lead scientist of the study, highlights the importance of this research, “Our evaluation sets a comprehensive standard for selecting SIF products, improving the accuracy of vegetation monitoring and advancing ecological and climate research.”
The findings from this study have wide-ranging applications in ecological monitoring, climate modeling, and environmental management. By identifying the most reliable SIF products for global GPP estimation, this research enhances the accuracy of vegetation productivity tracking, which is essential for understanding the carbon cycle and forecasting the effects of climate change. Additionally, these insights provide a foundation for refining current SIF products and developing new ones, contributing to more precise and reliable tools for monitoring the health and function of ecosystems worldwide.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42271104), the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program (GXWD20201231165807007-20200814213435001), and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (KQTD20221101093604016; JCYJ20220531093201004). Phenological data were provided by the members of the PEP725 project.
The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.
Review of 400 years of scientific literature corrects the record on icon of extinction
Researchers are setting out to challenge our misconceptions about the Dodo, one of the most well-known but poorly understood species of bird.
In a paper published today [16 August 2024] in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society researchers from the University of Southampton, Natural History Museum (NHM) and Oxford University Museum of Natural History have undertaken the most comprehensive review of the taxonomy of the Dodo and its closest relative, the Rodriguez Island Solitaire.
They’ve painstakingly gone through 400 years’ worth of scientific literature and visited collections around the UK to ensure this iconic species, embodying humanity’s destructive potential, is correctly classified.
“The Dodo was the first living thing that was recorded as being present and then disappeared,” says Dr Neil Gostling from the University of Southampton, supervising author of the paper. “Before this, it hadn’t been thought possible for human beings to influence God’s creation in such a way.
“This was a time before the scientific principles and systems we rely on to label and classify a species were in place. Both the Dodo and the Solitaire were gone before we had a chance to understand what we were looking at.”
Correcting the record
Much of what was written about the Dodo and the Solitaire was based on accounts from Dutch sailors, representations by artists, and incomplete remains.
The lack of a definitive reference point (type specimen) or convention to label species (zoological nomenclature) led to a series of misidentifications in the centuries following their extinction. New species such as the Nazarene Dodo, the White Dodo, and the White Solitaire were named, but the paper confirms that none of these creatures existed. Still, these erroneous ‘pebbles’ sent ripples through the waters of zoological literature.
“By the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Dodo and the Solitaire were considered to be mythological beasts,” says Dr Mark Young, lead author of the paper from the University of Southampton. “It was the hard work of Victorian-era scientists who finally proved that the Dodo and the Solitaire were not mythological but were giant ground doves.”
“Unfortunately, no one could agree how many species there had been,” continues Dr Young. “Throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries, researchers thought there were three different species, although some people thought there had been four or even five different species.”
To unpick this confusion, researchers went through all the literature on the Dodo and Rodriguez Solitaire encompassing hundreds of accounts dating back to 1598 and visited specimens around the UK, including the world’s only surviving soft tissue from the Dodo, in the Oxford Museum.
“More has been written about the Dodo than any other bird, yet virtually nothing is known about it in life,” says Dr Julian Hume, an avian palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum and coauthor of the paper.
“Based on centuries of nomenclatural confusion, and some 400 years after its extinction, the Dodo and Solitaire, continue to prompt heated debate. We’ve gone from where the first statements were made, seen how these have developed, and identified various rabbit holes to correct the record, as best we can.”
Through this work, researchers were able to confirm that both birds were members of the columbid (pigeon and dove) family.
“Understanding its wider relationships with other pigeons is of taxonomic importance, but from the perspective of conservation, the loss of the dodo and the solitaire a few decades later means a unique branch of the pigeon family tree was lost,” says Dr Gostling. “There are no other birds alive today like these two species of giant ground dove.”
Challenging our misconceptions
The researchers believe the popular idea of the Dodo as a fat, slow animal, predestined for extinction is flawed.
“Even four centuries later, we have so much to learn about these remarkable birds,” says Dr Young. “Was the Dodo really the dumb, slow animal we’ve been brought up to believe it was? The few written accounts of live Dodos say it was a fast-moving animal that loved the forest.”
Dr Gostling adds: “Evidence from bone specimens suggests that the Dodo’s tendon which closed its toes was exceptionally powerful, analogous to climbing and running birds alive today. The dodo was almost certainly a very active, very fast animal.
“These creatures were perfectly adapted to their environment, but the islands they lived on lacked mammalian predators. So, when humans arrived, bringing rats, cats, and pigs, the Dodo and the Solitaire never stood a chance.
“Dodos held an integral place in their ecosystems. If we understand them, we might be able to support ecosystem recovery in Mauritius, perhaps starting to undo the damage that began with the arrival of humans nearly half a millennium ago.”
Learning ‘valuable lessons’
The study marks the beginning of a wider project to understand the biology of these iconic animals.
"The mystery of the Dodo bird is about to be cracked wide open," says Dr Markus Heller, Professor of Biomechanics at the University of Southampton, a coauthor on the paper.
"We have assembled a fantastic team of scientists to uncover the true nature of this famous extinct bird. But we are not just looking back in time - our research could help save today's endangered birds too."
Dr Heller explains: "Using cutting-edge computer technology, we are piecing together how the Dodo lived and moved. This isn't just about satisfying our curiosity. By understanding how birds evolved in the past, we are learning valuable lessons that could help protect bird species today."
"It's like solving a 300-year-old puzzle, and the solution might just help us prevent more birds from going the way of the Dodo."
The project will include work with palaeoartist Karen Fawcett, who has created a detailed, life-size model of the Dodo to bring the words on the pages of books and journal articles to life. She says: “This work has been the merging of science and art to achieve accuracy and realism so that these creatures come back from the dead, real and tangible for people to touch and see.”
The work is supported by the University of Southampton’s Institute for Life Sciences. The Institute Director, Professor Max Crispin, says: “The Institute was delighted to support this exciting work which exemplifies Southampton’s strength in interdisciplinary research and advanced scholarship.”
The systematics and nomenclature of the Dodo and the Solitaire (Aves: Columbidae), and an overview of columbid family-group nomina is published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Ends
Contact
Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton, press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.
Notes for editors
The systematics and nomenclature of the Dodo and the Solitaire (Aves: Columbidae), and an overview of columbid family-group nomina is published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. An advanced copy of the paper is available on request.
For Interviews with Dr Neil Gostling, Dr Mark Young and palaeoartist Karen Fawcett please contact Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.
Dodo dry forest scene shows the habitat in which the dodo lived along with other species native to Mauritius. Please credit Julian Pender Hume.
Solitaire shows a life reconstruction of the Solitaire of Rodrigues. Please credit Julian Pender Hume.
Dodo extinction factors shows the instruments of the Dodo’s demise, human’s habitat loss, cats and pigs as predators. Please credit Julian Pender Hume.
Solitaire territory shows the habitat on the island of Rodrigues with Solitaires amongst the vegetation. Please credit Julian Pender Hume.
Dodo extinction factorsshows the instruments of the Dodo’s demise, human’s habitat loss, cats and pigs as predators. Artwork by Julian Pender Hume.
Dodo dry forest scene shows the habitat in which the dodo lived along with other species native to Mauritius. Artwork by Julian Pender Hume.
Credit
Julian Pender Hume
Audio snippets of Dr Neil Gostling discussing the research.
Credit
University of Southampton
Additional information
The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2023). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni. www.southampton.ac.uk
The systematics and nomenclature of the Dodo and the Solitaire (Aves: Columbidae), and an overview of columbid family-group nomina is published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Article Publication Date
16-Aug-2024
COI Statement
Mark T. Young is an associate editor of the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Numerous manufacturers use insecure android kernels
In an analysis of smartphones of ten manufacturers, researchers at TU Graz have found that the Android kernels used are vulnerable to known attacks – so-called one-day exploits – despite existing protection mechanisms.
Graz University of Technology
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The kernels of many Android smartphones are not as secure as they could be.
Smartphones are a constant companion and important work tool for many people. In addition to contacts, appointments and emails, the devices are increasingly being used for sensitive tasks such as online banking or official matters. This increases the safety requirements. As Lukas Maar, Florian Draschbacher, Lukas Lamster and Stefan Mangard from the Institute of Applied Information Processing and Communications at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have discovered in a comprehensive analysis of the Android kernels of the ten largest and most well-known smartphone manufacturers, there are numerous flaws here that allow one-day exploits using already known attack methods. The researchers presented their findings on 15 August at the Usenix Security Symposium in Philadelphia, USA.
Depending on the manufacturer and model, only between 29 and 55 per cent of the 994 smartphones tested by the research team were able to prevent attacks. In contrast, the Generic Kernel Image (GKI) version 6.1 provided by Google would be able to prevent around 85 per cent of attacks. Compared to the GKI, the manufacturer kernels performed up to 4.6 times worse in defending against attacks. The research team analysed devices from these manufacturers that came onto the market between 2018 and 2023 (listing from the most secure to the least secure): Google, Realme, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei, Oppo und Fairphone. The Android versions used on these smartphones ranged from versions 9 to 14, while the kernels covered the range from versions 3.10 to 6.1, with manufacturers who rely on lower kernel versions also offering less security.
Effective defence mechanisms rarely activated
Another key point of the analysis is that there are already effective defences for a number of the known attack methods, but they are either rarely activated in the manufacturers’ kernels or the kernels are configured incorrectly. As a result, even kernel version 3.1 from 2014 with all security measures activated could provide better protection against known attacks than around 38 per cent of the kernels configured by the manufacturers themselves. The researchers also found that manufacturers’ low-end models were around 24 per cent more at risk than high-end models. One important reason for this is the loss of performance that additional security measures can cause, which is why they are often deactivated in low-end models to conserve resources.
“We hope that our results will help to ensure that more effective security measures can be found in manufacturers’ kernels in the future, making Android more secure,” says Lukas Maar. “We also shared our analysis with the manufacturers investigated and Google, Fairphone, Motorola, Huawei and Samsung have taken note – some have even released patches. We have also suggested that Google update the Android Compatibility Definition Document (CDD), which sets out the framework of requirements for devices to be compatible with Android. Google itself has emphasised that it is aware of the problem and wants to strengthen the integration of kernel security measures step by step. However, it is up to the manufacturers whether they want to sacrifice performance for this.”
This project was funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as part of the SEIZE project and is part of the Field of Expertise “Information, Communication & Computing”, one of the five strategic focus areas at TU Graz.
Method of Research
Data/statistical analysis
Exploring options for the sustainable management of phosphorus
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Focusing on Sweden, a new IIASA study assessed the feasibility of recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater as an alternative sustainable source of this non-renewable mineral.
Phosphorus is an essential mineral present in many everyday foods and crucial for human health. It is also a critical nutrient for plants, making it a key ingredient in the production of fertilizers. Acquired primarily through mining and processing of phosphate rock, phosphorus is a finite non-renewable resource, and scientists predict that its uneven distribution around the world, as well as growing global food demand, might result in higher prices of fertilizers in the near future. This highlights an urgent need to improve the efficiency of its use.
Previous studies show that recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater can provide an alternative sustainable source of this mineral, as nearly 98% of the phosphorus consumed by humans in urban areas ends up in sewage sludge. Currently, the most common practice for sewage sludge management in Europe is land application. This practice, which involves spreading treated sewage sludge onto land to improve soil properties and provide nutrients for crops, is becoming increasingly controversial. Sludge often contains both valuable resources and harmful substances, so land application of sludge can introduce both phosphorus and potentially hazardous contaminants into the soil. Effective recovery methods could help to minimize the environmental impacts, promoting healthier water systems and biodiversity.
In their study, former IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) participant, Marzieh Bagheri, and colleagues from IIASA evaluated various phosphorus recovery technologies, their costs, and greenhouse gas emissions to identify economically viable strategies for phosphorus recovery from municipal wastewater.
The study examines different scenarios, including phosphorus recovery technologies in individual plants and hubs, as well as different sludge management strategies including land application, incineration, and hydrochar production under current market conditions. Sweden was selected as the case study, primarily due to its reliance on land application of sewage sludge and potential legislative shifts favoring extraction methods.
“Our study assesses the economic viability of phosphorus recovery in Swedish municipal wastewater treatment plants and identifies the potential challenges that could be encountered as part of this process. We also proposed tailored solutions to those challenges for municipal wastewater treatment plant operators and provided recommendations for guiding future policies to help develop supportive regulations for phosphorus recovery,” explains Bagheri.
The prevalence of smaller, widespread municipal wastewater treatment plants in Sweden has been pinpointed as a central obstacle, creating substantial economic and logistical hurdles that discourage investments in phosphorus recovery.
The researchers discovered that the economic viability of phosphorus recovery varies significantly between individual plants and strategies. Individual plants face high recovery costs, making the recovery less profitable without subsidies. In contrast, hub strategies, which involve collaboration among multiple plants, can reduce costs. In addition, the authors highlight that developing hub networks and converting sludge into marketable products can generate revenue and offset disposal costs, reducing overall management expenses.
The findings of the study emphasize the crucial role of external factors, such as regulatory mandates or long-term increase of fertilizer prices, in making phosphorus recovery economically viable. On the other hand, the authors point out that policies promoting specific phosphorus recovery technologies risk hindering adaptability to diverse conditions, potentially prioritizing high-infrastructure investments and overlooking more sustainable solutions. They also emphasize that comprehensive environmental impact assessments for each recovery technology are required to avoid unintended increases in emissions.
“Phosphorus is essential for food production and the efficient recovery of this mineral from wastewater would help to ensure a sustainable supply, as well as reduce reliance on finite resources, while supporting food security,” notes Adriana Gomez Sanabria, a researcher in the IIASA Pollution Management Research Group. “Understanding phosphorus recovery economics is vital for informed investments. Cost-effective methods and collaborative approaches could play a major role in enhancing financial sustainability and supporting the circular economy by recycling waste into valuable resources.”
Reference:
Bagheri, M., Gómez-Sanabria, A., Höglund-Isaksson, L., (2024) Economic feasibility and direct greenhouse gas emissions from different phosphorus recovery methods in Swedish wastewater treatment plants. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 49, 10.1016/j.spc.2024.07.007. (In Press) [https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/19885]
Researchers have introduced StarFusion, a cutting-edge spatiotemporal fusion method that significantly improves the temporal resolution and fusion accuracy of high-resolution satellite imagery in agriculture. By fusing data from China's Gaofen-1 and Europe's Sentinel-2 satellites, StarFusion addresses the common problem of infrequent imaging due to long revisit periods and cloud cover interference from high-resolution satellites, which often hinders the effectiveness of high-resolution remote sensing in dynamic agricultural environments. By integrating deep learning with traditional regression models, the method enhances both spatial detail and temporal resolution, making it an invaluable tool for more effective crop monitoring and management.
Remote sensing plays a vital role in monitoring agricultural landscapes, yet current satellite sensors often struggle with the trade-off between spatial and temporal resolution. High spatial resolution images, while detailed, are often limited by infrequent captures and cloud interference, reducing their utility in rapidly changing environments. Conversely, images with better temporal resolution lack the necessary spatial detail for precise analysis. These challenges underscore the need for advanced fusion methods that can better serve agricultural applications.
A team from the State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science at Beijing Normal University, in collaboration with other institutions, has developed StarFusion, a new spatiotemporal fusion method. Published (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0159) on July 22, 2024, in the Journal of Remote Sensing, the study combines deep learning and traditional regression techniques to address the limitations of current fusion methods. StarFusion effectively merges high-resolution Gaofen-1 data with medium-resolution Sentinel-2 data, resulting in significantly enhanced imagery for agricultural monitoring.
StarFusion represents an innovative approach to spatiotemporal image fusion, blending the strengths of deep learning and traditional regression models. By integrating a super-resolution generative adversarial network (SRGAN) with a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model, StarFusion achieves high fusion accuracy while preserving fine spatial details. The method effectively manages challenges like spatial heterogeneity and limited cloud-free image availability, making it highly practical for real-world agricultural applications. Extensive testing across various agricultural sites has shown that StarFusion outperforms existing techniques, particularly in maintaining spatial detail and enhancing temporal resolution. Its capability to function with minimal cloud-free data sets it apart, providing a reliable solution for crop monitoring in regions plagued by frequent cloud cover.
"StarFusion represents an valuable attempt in remote sensing technology for agriculture," said Professor Jin Chen, the study's lead author. "Its ability to generate high-quality images with improved temporal resolution will greatly enhance precision agriculture and environmental monitoring."
StarFusion offers significant advantages for digital agriculture, providing high-resolution imagery essential for detailed crop monitoring, yield prediction, and disaster assessment. Its ability to produce accurate images despite cloud cover and limited data availability makes it particularly valuable for agricultural management in regions with challenging weather conditions. As this technology evolves, StarFusion is expected to play a crucial role in advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.
