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Frances O\u2019Donnell, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is partnering with NASA to study geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) and their environmental impacts. <\/span><\/p>\n GIWs \u2014 wetlands not connected to major bodies of water and abundant in the southeast coastal plains \u2014 provide benefits such as flood prevention, wildlife habitat and water quality improvements. <\/span><\/p>\n However, since GIWs are not protected by the Clean Water Act, it is difficult to monitor water levels sufficiently over time. <\/span><\/p>\n O\u2019Donnell will collaborate with NASA\u2019s Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to gather satellite data for monitoring water management in GIWs and extend the information to different U.S. regions to compare the impact of climate on hydrology. <\/span><\/p>\n The research has four objectives: verifying SWOT\u2019s GIW data accuracy, comparing and scaling the data, developing methods to monitor water storage and management and applying the technique to GIWs in various regions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to use this data in ways that will benefit society and scientific understanding so that NASA can keep the satellite running, and we can keep collecting data,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But with success comes struggle. One challenge the team faces is monitoring throughout wet and dry cycles, each of which can last up to three years \u2014 the typical time before a grant expires. <\/span><\/p>\n Cycles cause data gaps and insufficient results. <\/span><\/p>\n Long-term SWOT data can combat this. If the SWOT satellite continues operating, it will produce decades of data for O\u2019Donnell and her team to produce results on how GIWs change throughout climate cycles.<\/span><\/p>\n Frances O\u2019Donnell, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is partnering with NASA to study geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) and their environmental impacts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":10617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1057],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"