Home Projects Publications Latest Results Data Project Team CQUEST DART Invasive Species Global Regional Data Mining Microbial Modeling Daily Modeling Hydrologic Modeling Governing Equations Model Validation (environmental inputs) Model Validation (oxygen) Model Validation (sulfide) Model Validation (dissolved inorganic carbon) Astrobiological Relevance Remote Sensing Studies References   Remote Sensing Studies Satellite images can now reveal the remarkable biological coloration of microbial hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. Examples are shown here from the Lower/Midway Geyser Basins and Hayden Valley of Yellowstone. The visible and near-infrared bands are combined to show microbial pigmentation in these first-ever "true color" images of Yellowstone thermal features from space. Research is underway to combine this type of satellite imagery with field measurements of active microbial hot springs and extinct thermal features in Yellowstone, the latter of which could resemble ancient mineralized hydro-thermal areas on the surface of Mars. Credits: Christopher Potter (NASA ARC), Seth Hiatt, NASA Astrobiology Institute collaborators.

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