English: Wild Pacific salmon live along river systems that cross international borders and fall under various jurisdictions, so keeping track of their habitat is a challenge. Scientists at the University of Montana developed Riverscape Analysis Project to provide a consistent and comprehensive tool to document, assess and compare the physical habitats of large salmon rivers of the North Pacific Rim area. Included in the tool are daily freeze and thaw data available via NASA’s Aura satellite’s microwave remote sensing. Combined with NASA’s MODIS data and other dataset, the website-based tool allows local governments, other scientists, and conservationists to clearly identify the rivers that are important homes to wild salmon.

Link to learn more: www.ntsg.umt.edu/rap/salmon-habitat/default.php

Credit: Department of Interior