Instruments in space are aiding in the detection of wastewater plumes entering the Pacific Ocean from the Tijuana River in San Diego County. The EMIT instrument, developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has shown promising results in identifying sewage contamination in Southern California waters.

A recent study focused on the mouth of the Tijuana River, where millions of gallons of treated and untreated sewage flow into the river annually, affecting coastal waters and marine life. Traditional satellite sensors have limitations in detecting pollutants like harmful bacteria, making it challenging to monitor water quality effectively.

NASA's EMIT instrument, orbiting aboard the International Space Station, uses hyperspectral imaging to analyze sunlight reflections off Earth's surface. By splitting light into various color bands, EMIT can identify specific molecules based on their unique spectral characteristics. In a study comparing EMIT's observations with ground-based water samples, scientists detected a pigment called phycocyanin, indicating the presence of harmful cyanobacteria.

Lead author Eva Scrivner highlighted EMIT's potential in filling data gaps in polluted areas, where traditional sampling methods are time-consuming and costly. The technology behind EMIT, known as imaging spectroscopy, has been instrumental in various fields, from agriculture to firefighting.

Originally designed to map minerals in desert regions, EMIT's sensitivity allowed it to detect wastewater contamination off the California coast. This unexpected capability has impressed researchers and highlighted the instrument's versatility and potential in environmental monitoring.

For more information on EMIT, visit: NASA's EMIT Page

News Media Contacts
Jane J. Lee / Andrew Wang
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307
[email protected] / [email protected]

Written by Sally Younger