Dr. Josefino Comiso, a Senior Scientist Emeritus of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), discussed the importance of space technology applications in agriculture and natural resources during SESAM ExChanges 15 at the SESAM Boardroom., School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) last August 13, 2024. With more than 200 participants, this hybrid event was also shown via Zoom and Facebook Live. 

Dr. Rico Ancog, Dean of SESAM, said in his opening remarks that Dr. Comiso is one of the prime movers of space technology in the Philippines. He wishes that this lecture will encourage more young people to venture into space science and education.  

He also mentioned that this SESAM ExChanges Seminar Series 15 is in conjunction with the celebration of Philippine Space Week. “The holding of this event is made even more special, since the country is celebrating our Philippine Space Week with the Philippine Space Agency and the Department of Science and Technology has been very busy in highlighting the importance of space technology and also relating this to the importance of this technology to national development,” Dr. Ancog added.

Dr. Comiso was a Senior Scientist at the Earth Sciences Division of the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center until he retired a few years ago as Senior Scientist Emeritus. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of the Philippines; Masters Degree in Physics from Florida State University; and Ph.D. in physics from the University of California in Los Angeles.  

At the Goddard Space Flight Center, his research led to new insights into the Earth Climate System including climate change indicators as revealed by the accelerated decline of the perennial ice and amplified warming in the Arctic; phytoplankton blooms and relationships with sea ice cover; deep ocean convection and bottom water formation as influenced by sea ice growth in polynyas and Odden; impacts of extreme Sea Surface Temperature on the strength of super typhoons and the assessment of forest loss and forest gains in the Philippines.

In his lecture, Dr. Comiso emphasized the importance of using of satellites in monitoring typhoons. He said that the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite was instrumental in monitoring Typhoon Hagupit in 2014 and it was able to give a timely warning to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) of its strength. 

“With the capability of GPM, we were able to get a three-dimensional characterization of Hagupit’s image and quantified the amount of rain and we were able to communicate an accurate warning that led to the evacuation of one million people and there were only two casualties,” Dr. Comiso stressed.

Dr. Comiso, a Balik-scientist under DOST, also said it is possible that in a few decades, we will have an Arctic summer with no ice cover, and that will be catastrophic to our planet. He insisted that countries that committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions must be true to their commitments to avoid this catastrophe.

This year, Dr. Comiso, along with SESAM Professors Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon and Dr. Decibel F. Eslava, co-authored a book entitled “Rediscovering Laguna de Bay- A Vital Natural Resource in Crisis,” published by the UP Press.

SESAM ExChanges is organized by the Continuing Education and Training Division (CETD) of SESAM, University of the Philippines Los Baños, led by For. Sofia Alaira and members, Dr. Thaddeus Lawas, Ms. Cherry S. Padilla, Ms. Jessa Aquino-Cando, EnP., Mr. Robert Patrick Cabangbang, and assisted by Ms. Rosemarie Laila D. Areglado.