WEBVTT FILE

1
00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:04.630
NASA has taken to the skies of Alaska

2
00:00:04.650 --> 00:00:04.650


3
00:00:04.670 --> 00:00:08.920
An airborne study conducted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service

4
00:00:08.940 --> 00:00:09.280


5
00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:13.140
aims to complete a detailed survey of the Tanana Valley Forests

6
00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:13.480


7
00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:17.480
The 115 million acres of forest in Interior Alaska

8
00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:17.580


9
00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:24.550
is particularly prone to wild fires and represents 15 percent of all forested land in the U.S.

10
00:00:24.570 --> 00:00:24.880


11
00:00:24.900 --> 00:00:29.660
Since the 1950's, 40 to 50 percent of the landscape has been burned

12
00:00:29.680 --> 00:00:29.980


13
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.550
The study will sample more than 80 percent of the burned areas by plane

14
00:00:34.570 --> 00:00:34.880


15
00:00:34.900 --> 00:00:38.370
Live trees can be distinguished from standing dead trees

16
00:00:38.390 --> 00:00:38.480


17
00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:43.030
using an instrument that maps the composition and 3D structure of the wilderness

18
00:00:43.050 --> 00:00:43.480


19
00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:46.970
The measurements will enable scientists to see patterns of fire recovery

20
00:00:46.990 --> 00:00:47.180


21
00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:50.580
and provide a benchmark for assessing future changes to the region

22
00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:53.734