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Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory (614)

Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory (614)

Profile for Jon Ranson


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Title: Branch Head
Affiliation: NASA
Contact: E-mail
Office Phone: 301-614-6650
Fax: 301-614-6695

Biography

Dr. K. Jon Ranson received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Earth Resources from Colorado State University and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He has used remote sensing technology for studies of the Earth's surface since the 1970's using Skylab and Landsat 1 and 2 MSS data for geologic and forest cover mapping. Later his research was focused on bi-directional reflectance behavior of vegetation canopies and microwave backscatter characteristics of crops and trees. In 1986, Dr. Ranson joined the Biospheric Sciences Branch at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. While with the Biospheric Sciences Branch, Dr. Ranson continued with reflectance studies of forests and became more involved in forest radar research through spaceborne (SIR-C/XSAR. ERS, JERS and Radarsat), airborne (AIRSAR) and field based (FED, BOREAS, Siberian Disturbance Mapping) projects to study North American and Eurasian boreal forests.

In addition to his research activities, he is currently the Head of the Biospheric Sciences Branch and Project Scientist for NASA's EOS Terra spacecraft. He has also served as Acting Program Manager for Land Cover and Land Use Change (1999) and Remote Sensing Science (1993) Programs at NASA HQ. Dr. Ranson has published over 150 scientific and technical papers and is a member of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society and the American Geophysical Union. He also teaches a remote sensing course once a year for the Johns Hopkins Environmental Sciences and Policy Part Time Graduate Program.


RESEARCH AREAS:

  • Forest Dynamics Monitoring and Modeling

  • Active Microwave Research for Ecosystem Analysis

  • Bidirectional Reflectance of Vegetation Canopies



    • PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • 2003 - Present Branch Head, Biospheric Sciences Branch, GSFC

  • 1998 - Program Manager (Acting), NASA Headquarters, Land Cover Land Use Change Program

  • 1992 - 1993 Program Manager (Acting), NASA Headquarters, Ecosystem Dynamics and Biogeochemical Cycling Branch, Remote Sensing Science Program.

  • 1986 - Present Physical Scientist, Biospheric Sciences Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Conduct basic research on optical and microwave remote sensing and modeling for study of global forested ecosystems.

  • 1985 - 1986 Research Agronomist, Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS), Purdue University. Conduct basic and applied agricultural and forest research utilizing bidirectional reflectance and microwave scattering measurements and models.

  • 1984 Post-Doctoral Research, Agronomy Department and LARS Purdue University. Bidirectional reflectance studies of agricultural crops.

  • 1980 - 1983 Graduate Instructor, Agronomy Department and LARS. Purdue University. Full time research position while pursuing doctoral degree.

  • 1976 - 1980 Research Associate, Departments of Forest and Wood Sciences and Earth Resources. Colorado State University, Basic research of reflectance and thermal characteristics of forests in mountainous terrain.

  • 1972 - 1975 Graduate Research Assistant, Earth Resources Department, Colorado State University. Studies of geologic and forest mapping using Skylab and Landsat Data in Cripple Creek, Colorado.

  • 1971 - 1972 Junior Research Technician, Department of Watershed Sciences, Colorado State University. Field and laboratory remote sensing studies of grassland flora.

  • 1971 - NSF Student Originated Studies, Department of Watershed Sciences, Colorado State University, Watershed analysis in Colorado State Forest.

  • 1969 - 1971 Work Study Student, Department of Watershed Sciences, Colorado State University, Field remote sensing research of grasslands.



    • EDUCATION:

  • 1972 - B.S. Watershed Sciences, Colorado State University

  • 1975 - M.S. Earth Resources, Colorado State University

  • 1983 - Ph.D. Agronomy, Purdue University



    • PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

    IEEE Geosciences and Remote Sensing Society, American Geophysical Union



    Selected Publications

    1. Kharuk VI, Ranson KJ, Im ST, Naurzbaev MM, Forest-tundra larch forests and climatic trends, Russian Journal of Ecology, 37 (5): 291-298, SEP-OCT 2006.

    2. Kimes DS, Ranson KJ, Sun G, Blair JB, “Predicting lidar measured forest vertical structure from multi-angle spectral data”, Remote Sensing of Environment, 100 (4): 503-511, FEB 28 2006.

    3. Koetz B, Morsdorf F, Sun G, Ranson KJ, Itten K, Allgower B, “Inversion of a lidar waveform model for forest biophysical parameter estimation”, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, 3 (1): 49-53, JAN 2006.

    4. Kharuk VI, Dvinskaya ML, Ranson KJ, “The spatiotemporal pattern of fires in northern Taiga larch forests of central Siberia”, Russian Journal of Ecology, 36 (5): 302-311, SEP-OCT 2005.

    5. Kharuk VI, Dvinskaya ML, Ranson KJ, Im ST, "Expansion of evergreen conifers to the larch-dominated zone and climatic trends", Russian Journal of Ecology, 36 (3): 164-170, MAY-JUN 2005.

    6. Kharuk VI, Im ST, Ranson KJ, and Naurzbaev MM, 2004: "Temporal dynamics of larch in the forest-tundra ecotone", Doklady Earth Sciences, 398 (7): 1020-1023.

    7. Kharuk VI, Ranson KJ, Kozuhovskaya AG, Kondakov YP, and Pestunov IA, 2004: "NOAA-AVHRR Satellite Detection of Siberian Silkmoth Outbreaks in Eastern Siberia", Int. J. Remote Sensing, Vol. 20 (24): 5543-5555.

    8. Kovacs K, Ranson KJ, Sun G, and Kharuk VI, 2004: "The Relationship of the Terra MODIS Fire Product and Anthropogenic Features in the Central Siberian Landscape", Earth Interactions, Vol. 8, No. 18, pp. 1–25.

    9. Bergen, K. M., S. G. Conard, R. A. Houghton, E. S. Kasischke, V. I. Kharuk, O. N. Krankina, K. J. Ranson, H. H. Shugart, A. I. Sukhinin, and R. F. Treyfeld, 2003: "NASA and Russian scientists observe land-cover and land-use change and carbon in Russian forests", Journal of Forestry, 101 (4): 34-41.

    10. Kharuk, V. I., K. J. Ranson, V. V. Kuz'michev, S. Im, 2003: "Landsat-based analysis of insect outbreaks in southern Siberia", Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 29 (2): 286-297.

    11. Kharuk, V. I., K. J. Ranson, T. A. Burenina, and E. V. Fedotova, 2003: "Mapping of Siberian forest landscapes along the Yenisey transect with AVHRR", Int'l Journal of Remote Sensing, 24 (1): 23-37.

    12. Ranson, K. J., K. Kovacs, G. Sun, and V. I. Kharuk, 2003: "Disturbance recognition in the boreal forest using radar and Landsat-7", Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 29 (2): 271-285

    13. Sun, G., K. J. Ranson, V. I. Kharuk, and K. Kovacs, 2003: "Validation of surface height from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission using Shuttle Laser Altimeter", Remote Sensing of Environment, 88, (4), 401-411.

    14. Kharuk V. I., K. J. Ranson, V. V. Kuzmichev., T. A. Burenina, A. Yu. Tikhomirov, and S. T. Im, 2002: "An analysis of temporal dynamics of the Siberian silkmoth outbreaks", Russian J. of Remote Sensing, 4:1-12.

    15. Sun, G., K. J. Ranson and V. I. Kharuk, 2002: "Radiometric slope correction for forest biomass estimation from SAR data in the Western Sayani Mountains, Siberia". Remote Sensing of Environment, 79: 279-287.

    16. Kharuk V. I., Kozukhovskaya, Pestunov I. A., K. J. Ranson, and G. M. Tzibulsky, 2001: "Siberian silk moth outbreak monitoring based on NOAA/AVHRR images", Issledovaniya Zemly iz Cosmosa (Russian J. of Remote Sensing), No. 1: 80-86.

    17. Ranson, K. J., G. Sun, V. I. Kharuk, and K. Kovacs, 2001: "Characterization of Forests in Western Sayani Mountains, Siberia from SAR data", Remote Sensing of Environment, 75, 188-200.

    18. Ranson, K.J., G. Sun, R.G. Knox, E. R. Levine, J. F. Weishampel, and S.T. Fifer, 2001: "Northern Forest Ecosystem Dynamics Using Coupled Models and Remote Sensing", Remote Sensing of Environment, 75, 291-302.

    19. Sun, G., Ranson, K.J. and Kharuk, V.I., 2001: "Radiometric slope correction for forest biomass estimation from SAR data in Western Sayani Mountains", Siberia Remote Sens. Envir., 79, 279-287.

    20. Ranson, K. J. and Sun, G, 2000: "Effects of environmental conditions on SAR forest classification and biomass estimation", IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 38(3):1242 - 1252.

    21. Sun G. and K. J. Ranson, 2000: "Modeling lidar returns from forest canopies", IEEE TGARS, 38(6):2617-2626.

    22. Sun, G., Ranson, K. J., Bufton, J. and Roth, M, 2000: "Requirement of ground tie points for InSAR DEM generation", Journal of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 66:81-85.

    23. Ranson, K.J., G.J. Collatz, D.J. Diner, A. B. Kahle, V.V. Salomonson, 1998: Editorial - Special Issue on EOS AM-1, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 36:1039.

    24. Kaufman, Y.J., Herring, D.D., Ranson K.J. and G.J. Collatz, 1998: "Earth Observing System AM Mission To Earth", IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 36: 1045-1055.

    25. Sellers, P.J., F.G. Hall, R.D. Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi, J. Berry, H. Margolis, M. Ryan, KJ Ranson, P.M. Crill, D.P. Lettenmeier, J. Cihlar, J. Newcomer, D. Halliwell, D. Fitzjarrald, P.G. Jarvis, S.T. Gower, D.Williams, B. Goodison, D.E. Wickland, and F.E. Guertin. BOREAS in 1997: "Scientific results, experiment overview and future directions, BOREAS Special Issue", JGR-Atmospheres, Vol. 102, No. D24, pp. 28731-28769.

    26. K.J. Ranson, R. Lang, G. Sun, N, Chauhan, R. Cacciola and O. Kilic, 1997: "Mapping of boreal forest biomass from spaceborne synthetic aperture radar", JGR-Atmospheres, Vol. 102, No. D24, pp. 29, 599-29,610.

    27. Kimes, D.S., K.J. Ranson, and G. Sun, 1997: "Inversion of a forest backscatter model using neural networks", Int. J. Remote Sensing, 18(10): 2181-2199.

    28. K.J. Ranson and G. Sun, 1997: "An evaluation of AIRSAR and SIR-C/X-SAR data for estimating northern forest attributes", Remote Sensing of Environment, 59:203-222.

    29. Ranson, K. J., G. Sun, J.F. Weishampel and R.G. Knox, 1997: "Forest biomass from combined ecosystem and radar backscatter modeling", Remote Sensing of Environment, 59: 118-133.

    30. K.J. Ranson, S. Saatchi, and G. Sun, 1995: "Boreal forest ecosystem characterization with SIR-C/XSAR", IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. , Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 867-876.

    31. Sun, G. and K.J. Ranson, 1995: "A three-dimensional radar backscatter model of forest canopies", IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. , Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 372-382.

    32. Waring, R., J. Way, R. Hunt, L. Morrisey, K.J. Ranson, J. Weishampel and R. Oren, R, 1995: Remote Sensing with radar in ecosystem studies, BioScience, 45(10): 715-723.

    33. K.J. Ranson and G. Sun, Mapping biomass for a northern forest using multifrequency SAR data, 1994: IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing, 32(2) 388-396.

    34. Ranson, K.J., J.R. Irons and D.L. Williams, 1994: "Multispectral bidirectional reflectance of northern forest canopies with ASAS. Remote Sensing Environ. 47(2):276-289.

    35. K.J. Ranson, J.R. Irons and C.S.T. Daughtry, 1991: "Surface Albedo from bidirectional reflectance", Remote Sens. Environ., 35: 201-211.

    36. Kharuk VI, Dvinskaya ML, Ranson KJ, “The spatiotemporal pattern of fires in northern Taiga larch forests of central Siberia”, Russian Journal of Ecology, 36 (5): 302-311, SEP-OCT 2005.

    37. Kharuk VI, Dvinskaya ML, Ranson KJ, Im ST, "Expansion of evergreen conifers to the larch-dominated zone and climatic trends", Russian Journal of Ecology, 36 (3): 164-170, MAY-JUN 2005.

    38. Chauhan,N.S., R.H. Lang and K.J. Ranson, 1991: "Radar modeling of a northern forest", IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. , 29: 627-638.

    39. K.J. Ranson, L.L. Biehl, and M.E. Bauer, 1985: "Variation in spectral response of soybeans with respect to illumination view and canopy geometry", Int. J. Remote Sens., 6: 1827-1842.

    40. K.J. Ranson, C.S.T. Daughtry, L.L. Biehl, and M.E. Bauer, 1985: "Sun-view angle effects on reflectance factors of corn canopies", Remote Sens. Environ., 18: 147-161.

    41. Smith, J.A., K.J. Ranson, D. Nguyen, L. Balik, L. Fritschen, and B. Hutchinson, 1981: "Thermal vegetation canopy modeling studies", Remote Sens. Environ. , 11: 311-326.

    42. Kimes, D.S., K.J. Ranson, and J.A. Smith, 1980: "A Monte Carlo simulation of canopy absorption", Photosynthetica, 14(1):55- 64.

      43. Conference Proceedings

      2004

      Ranson KJ, Sun G, Kovacs K, and Kharuk VI, "Landcover attributes from ICESat GLAS data in central Siberia", IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Anchorage, AK, SEP 20-24, 2004, IGARSS 2004: IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Meetings, VOLS 1-7 - Science for Society: Exploring and Managing a Changing Planet: 753-756, 2004.

      Sun G, Ranson KJ, Kharuk VI, and Kovacs K, "Changes in the taiga-tundra boundary observed with Landsat", IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Anchorage, AK, SEP 20-24, 2004, IGARSS 2004: IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Meetings, VOLS 1-7 - Science for Society: Exploring and Managing a Changing Planet: 722-724, 2004.

      Sun GQ, Ranson KJ, and Guo ZF, "Combined tree growth, L-system, and radar backscatter modeling", IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Anchorage, AK, SEP 20-24, 2004, IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Meetings, VOLS 1-7 - Science for Society: Exploring and Managing a Changing Planet: 891-894, 2004.

      Ranson KJ, Sun G, Kovacs K, and Kharuk VI, "Use of ICESat GLAS data for forest disturbance studies in central Siberia", IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Anchorage, AK, SEP 20-24, 2004, IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Meetings, VOLS 1-7 - Science for Society: Exploring and Managing a Changing Planet: 1936-1939, 2004.


      2002

      Kharuk V. I. and K. J. Ranson, "Landsat-7 in evaluation of oilfield exploitation impact on the south Evenkiya larch dominant communities". In Proceedings of SPIE ’s Symposium Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, Vol. 4898, 23-27 October 2002, Hangzhou, China, 2002.

      Kharuk, V. I., K. J. Ranson, V. Tret ’yakova, and A. Shashkin, 2002. "Reaction of the larch dominated communities on climate trends", In: Proceedings of an International Symposium Improvement of Larch (Larix sp) for better growth, stem form and wood quality. France, Gap, September 16-21. INRA, ed. L. E. Paques. pp. 289-295.

      Ranson, K. J., K. Kovacs and G. Sun, "Accounting for Topographic Slope Effects on Radar Backscatter in Siberian Forests", IGARSS02, Toronto, Canada, 2002.

      Ranson, K. J., G. Sun, K. Kovacs and V. I. Kharuk, "Utility of SARs for mapping forest disturbance in Siberia", IGARSS02, Toronto, Canada, 2002.

      Sun, G., L. Rocchio, J. Masek, D. Williams, and K. J. Ranson, "Chracterization of Forest recovery from fire using Landsat and SAR data", Proceedings of IGARSS ’02, June 24-28, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

      Sun. G., K. J. Ranson, "Modeling lidar and radar returns of forest canopies for data fusion", Proceedings of IGARSS ’02, June 24-28, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

      Sun, G., J. Masek, D. Williams, L. Rocchio, and K. J. Ranson, "Forest and land-use mapping from temporal MODIS Data", Proceedings of IGARSS ’02, June 24-28, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

      Sun, G., K. J. Ranson, V. I. Kharuk, and K. Kovacs, "Preliminary results in verification and evaluation of SRTM data", Proceedings of Advanced Workshop on InSAR Applications, pp. 7-13, Dec. 16-17, 2002, Hong Kong.


      2000

      Kharuk V. I. and Ranson, K. J. 2000. Microwave fire scar detection. In: Biodiversity and dynamics of ecosystems in North Eurasia. V.1. Part 2: Biodiversity and Dynamics of Ecosystems in North Eurasia: Informational Technologies and Modeling, Novosibirsk, Russia, August 21-26, 2000. IC&G, Novosibirsk, 2000. pp. 174-176.

      Narayanan, R. M., and K. J. Ranson, Class Project on Airbone Radar System Design and Development for Remote Sensing Applications. IGARSS'00, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2000.

      Ranson, K. J. and Guoqing Sun. Forest Disturbance Characterization Using ERS Tandem Data. Fringeí 99 Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, Nov 10-12, 2000.

      Sun, G., and Ranson, K. J., Radar Backscatter and Lidar Waveform Modeling of Forest Canopies. IGARSS'00, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2000.

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