Jon Ranson is a Senior Scientist with the Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He received the B.S. degree in Watershed Sciences and M.S. degree in Earth Resources from Colorado State University where his graduate research involved geologic and forest cover mapping. He later joined the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS) at Purdue University where he earned the Ph. D. degree. His Doctoral research quantified bidirectional reflectance characteristics of agricultural crops. In 1986, Dr. Ranson joined the Biospheric Sciences Branch where he has developed remote sensing linkages to forest ecosystem models and conducted optical and radar research while leading several domestic and international NASA projects. He also served as the Deputy Project scientist and Project Scientist of the EOS Terra Mission, was the science lead on the DESDynI lidar concept. His current research is focused on active and passive remote sensing of ecosystem dynamics of the boreal forest, especially in Siberia. He served as Chief of the Biospheric Science Laboratory from 2003-2014 and twice served as an acting NASA HQ Program Manager. He has authored and co-authored over 100 peer reviewed journal articles and was awarded a NASA Leadership Medal, Goddard Exceptional Supervisor Award and numerous Goddard performance awards. He is a member of IEEE GRSS AGU, AAAS and is an adjunct faculty for Johns Hopkins University.
Kenneth Jon Ranson
(RSCH AST, EARTH SCIENCES REMOTE SENS)
| Email: | kenneth.j.ranson@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.614.6650 |
| Org Code: | 618 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 618 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Research Interests
Active and passive optical and microwave research for ecosystem analysis
Earth Science: Carbon CycleCurrent Projects
Structure and Function of Ecosystems
Carbon Cycle
Linkages between vegetation functional parameters and 3-D structure.
Positions/Employment
Research Physical Scientist
Biospheric Sciences Lab. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD
October 2014 - Present
Conduct basic research on optical and microwave remote sensing and modeling for study of global forested ecosystems.
Branch Head/Laboratory Chief
Biospheric Sciences Lab. GSFC, NASA GSFC - Greenbelt, MD
August 2003 - September 2014
Research Physical Scientist
GSFC - Greenbelt, MD
October 1986 - July 2003
Conduct basic research on optical and microwave remote sensing and modeling for study of global forested ecosystems.
Research Agronomist,
Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS), Purdue University. - W. Lafayette, IN
May 1980 - September 1986
Conduct basic and applied agricultural and forest research utilizing bidirectional reflectance and microwave scattering measurements and models.
Education
Colorado State University 1972
M.S. Earth Resources
Colorado State University 1975
Ph.D. Agronomy (Remote Sensing)
Purdue University 1983
Professional Societies
American Geophysical Union
Member
2000 - Present
Professional Service
Journals : Agronomy Journal, Canadian Journal of Forestry, IEEE Transactions on Geosciences and Remote Sensing, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing of Environment, Remote Sensing Reviews, Remote Sensing Letters, Remote Sensing, Global Change Biology
Proposals : NASA Terrestrial Ecosystems Program, NASA Hydrology and Remote Sensing Science Programs, NASA EOS Interdisciplinary Science, NASA New Investigator Program. USDA-ARS, National Environment Research Council (UK), NSERC (Canada), Israeli Science Foundation, USAID, NASA Graduate Student Research Program
Awards
2019 NASA Performance Award Award
2018 NASA Performance Award Award
2017 NASA Distinguished Performance Award
2017 - TEAM Excellence Award ( Satellite Needs Assessment Team)
2016 NASA Performance Award
2015 NASA Performance Award
2014 NASA Performance Award
2013 RF Goddard Exceptional Supervisor Award
2012 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2011 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2010 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2009 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2008 NASA GSFC Quality Increase Award
2007 NASA Leadership Medal, NASA GSFC Special Act Award
2006 AIAA Space Systems Awards to NASA Earth Observing System Team, NASA GSFC Special Act Award, NASA GSFC Performance Award, NASA GSFC New Business Capture Award
2005 NASA GSFC Performance Award, NASA GSFC Special Act Award
2004 NASA GSFC Special Act Award
2003 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2002 NASA GSFC Performance Award
2001 NASA Group Achievement Awards – EOS Terra Project, NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award – EOS Terra Program Team
2000 NASA GSFC Performance Award (2)
1998 GSFC Group Achievement Award - Forest Ecosystem Dynamics
1997 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Performance Award
1996 GSFC Group Achievement Award - BOREAS Project Team
1995 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Quality Increase Award
1994 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Performance Award
1993 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, Quality Increase Award
1992 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Performance Award
1991 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Superior Accomplishment
1990 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Quality Increase Award
1989 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Quality Increase Award
1988 NASA Certificate of Outstanding Performance, NASA Performance Award
Selected Public Outreach
Siberian expedition blogs
August 2007 - September 2016
2007 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/SiberiaBlog/
2008 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/SiberiaBlog2008/
2010 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/fromthefield/2010/08/10/wild-west-siberia-2010-introduction/
2012 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/fromthefield/category/siberia-2012-embenchime-river-expedition/
Northwoods, Maine
June 1989 - September 2019
Conducted field and remote sensing measurements in the Howland and Penobscot Forests in Central Maine. Purpose was 1) test RS algorithms for Radar, Lidar, bi-directional reflectance and several optical imaging sensors, 2) develop and validate forest succession models and 3) develop fusion techniques to improve accuracy of RS methods..