SERVIR’s Water Portfolio - Addressing Water Scarcity Challenges in the Anthropocene through Earth Observations and Geospatial Technologies

Water scarcity presents a pressing global challenge in the Anthropocene era, intensified by the impacts of climate change and socioeconomic pressures. Working with our regional partners, SERVIR has a comprehensive water portfolio focusing on innovative drought monitoring and management solutions across its global network of hubs. SERVIR worked with users in the region to understand decision-makers needs to collaboratively develop drought portals, which integrate satellite imagery, climate data, environmental data, and hydrological models to provide near real-time monitoring and forecasting of water availability and drought conditions. These portals offer decision-makers timely and actionable information for practical water resources and drought management. The presentation explores how SERVIR helps track changing water availability across diverse landscapes, from ephemeral water bodies in Senegal to groundwater resources in Niger to drought outlooks in South/Southeast Asia. We demonstrate the transformation of these digital innovations, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, into user-friendly tools and services that support local water management agencies and communities. Additionally, we discuss the impacts of changing water availability on populations, highlighting efforts to assess and mitigate these effects in agriculture, ecosystem management, and reservoir water management. Capacity building is a crucial aspect of SERVIR efforts. This presentation illustrates our approach to ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership of water management tools for decision-making. SERVIR aims to foster effective dialogue and action for innovation and collective action to strengthen water resources management and climate change adaptation in SERVIR regions.

Evaluation of Potential Environmental Drivers of Algal Blooms in Central American Crater Lakes

Recent global studies indicate that rising temperatures may be fueling the proliferation of algal blooms in lacustrine systems. In Central America, recurring algal blooms in endorheic lakes have appeared only within the last fifteen years. Mirroring a similar situation occurring in Lake Atitlan in neighboring Guatemala, El Salvador’s Lake Coatepeque - a 26 km2 volcanic crater lake - is one such system whose recent (c. 2020) algal blooms have raised concerns among local authorities due to the Lake’s importance to the economies of nearby communities. The Lake’s algal blooms - which at times occupy up to a third of the water’s surface - are also apparent in the satellite imagery. We compiled Earth observation data from 2003-2024 to evaluate trends and potential drivers, including daytime and nighttime water surface temperature, incident radiation, precipitation, and the normalized difference vegetation index for the surrounding watershed which drains into Lake Coatepeque. Chlorophyll a concentrations and estimates of water turbidity were also extracted from the satellite data record. Preliminary analysis suggests that various environmental factors might be at play in triggering the algal blooms. The water surface temperature has been shown to increase over the last ten years, in tandem with increases in long-wave incident radiation and the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments. This work analyzes long-term trends on water temperature, algal bloom presence, precipitation, runoff and land cover changes to identify the main potential drivers of algal blooms in these crater lakes. Given the similarities between the proliferation of algal blooms in Lake Coatepeque and Lake Atitlan, the NASA/ USAID SERVIR program aims to apply an analogous predictive model successfully implemented for the latter to help local decision-makers in monitoring efforts by identifying when algal blooms are likely to occur in Lake Coatepeque.

Connecting Space to Village - How the SERVIR Program Bridges the Gap between Science and End User Needs in Africa, the Americas, and Asia

Originally established in Mesoamerica in early 2005, the NASA / USAID program now has activities in six regions of the world, working in collaboration with regional centers of excellence (SERVIR ‘hubs’) which leverage Earth observation data to address development challenges, in so doing “connecting space to village” (i.e., the program’s motto). Across the program’s implementation, activities have shifted from initially providing satellite-derived datasets and model outputs for environmental decision support to co-creation and co-development, with stakeholders, of medium- to long-term services across five thematic focus areas. Across its international network, SERVIR’s activities are likewise guided by a 2020-2025 strategic plan which aligns with strategic guidance documents from NASA and USAID, including the NASA Earth to Action Strategy, and the USAID Climate Strategy. The SERVIR program also operates synergistically with its similarly long-standing sister ‘program elements’ of the Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) and DEVELOP, from the NASA Earth Action Capacity Building Program, with all three program elements focusing on strengthening stakeholder capacities. Toward that goal of strengthening end user capacity, the program has also engaged in partnerships with other US Government institutions and initiatives, international organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. With almost twenty years of activities across multiple continents under its belt, the SERVIR program has documented many lessons learned in terms of strengthening capacity and bridging the gap between science and data and end user needs. In the spirit of this session’s overarching objectives, this presentation will specifically focus on those lessons learned, with a perspective on how those lessons might be applied to other programs and contexts.

Satellite-based ET mapping for improved water and nutrient management in the Magic Valley

Anticipating Hazard Impacts through Capacity Building and Co-development

Improving forecast accuracy, extending lead time, understanding hazard susceptibility, and integrating exposure and vulnerability data to generate impact-based forecasts are critical in mitigating disaster impacts. These efforts enable anticipatory action through enhancing the efficacy of early warning systems to assess potential multi-dimensional hazard impacts. In response to this need, SERVIR has co-developed a series of hazard services providing vital information from national to regional scales. This poster showcases examples of geospatial services co-developed with partners through a capacity building approach, supporting the establishment of hazard early warning / early action systems. These services integrate multidimensional vulnerability and exposure data to comprehensively assess impacts. Furthermore, these services demonstrate how co-development and capacity building can advance the development of impact-based forecasts and multi-hazards services. By prioritizing collaboration, human insights, local knowledge, capacity building, and employing applied science approaches in geospatial service development, this work has helped create inclusive and customized solutions. These solutions are tailored to meet the needs of local communities and are readily adaptable into decision-making processes.