With the development of a physical oceanography program at CSI, the need to put site-specific measurements into a larger spatial context became imperative. Satellite-based remote sensing data were beginning to fill that need by the late 1970s (Huh et al., 1978). In 1988 Dr. Oscar Huh started the Earth Scan Laboratory (ESL) within CSI with a grant from Louisiana’s Educational Quality Enhancement Fund. The ESL is a direct broadcast ground station and remote sensing laboratory that receives and processes real-time environmental satellite data using three antenna on LSU rooftops. This station was first on the Gulf coast to receive NOAA AVHRR images. ESL capabilities have expanded to include real-time reception and processing of data from five additional satellite sensors; including GOES GVAR, Orbview-2 SeaWiFS, Terra-1 and Aqua-1 MODIS, Oceansat-1 OCM and SAR (synthetic aperture radar). The ESL houses a large archive of environmental satellite data dating back to 1988.The real-time measurements and the archives of satellite data kept by the ESL are invaluable for researchers from many disciplines and for the state of Louisiana emergency response officials. Data from the ESL have been especially useful for:

Many applications are still to be discovered. As Louisiana relies on controlled river diversions to help offset the effects of subsidence and land loss, remote sensing products from the ESL will certainly play an important project assessment role. In many areas of research, remotely sensed satellite data have become essential. The ESL will hopefully play an increasingly important role for CSI as well as other research groups as we move into the second half-century of research at the Institute. Near real time data are accessible on the Earth Scan Lab web site ( www.esl.lsu.edu ).

This Terra-1 Modis satellite image from February 23, 2003 reveals the spatial extent of river sediments on the Louisiana shelf after a cold front passage event. Red, green and blue channels are continued in this "true color" enhancement.

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This satellite image shows chlorophyll a distribution on the Louisiana shelf on 22 March 2003. The image was captured by the Oceansat-1 ocean color monitor.

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Installation of the Eath Scan Laboratory's 4.4m X-band tracking antenna in February 2001. The Louisiana Technology Innovation Fund provided funding to Dr. Oscar K. Huh and Dr. Nan D. Walker for this project. Acquisition of this antenna has enabled the tracking and capture of data from Terra-1 and Aqua-1 MODIS, Oceansat-1 Ocean Color Monitor and Synthetic Aperture Radar.