Dr. David J. Harding

Phone : 301-614-6503

Email : David.J.Harding@nasa.gov

PRESENT POSITION:

Geophysicist, Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory, Solar System Exploration Division, Sciences and Exploration Directorate

RESEARCH AREA EXPERIENCE:

Neotectonics, Topography and Surface Change, Vegetation Canopy Structure, Laser Altimetry

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

Dr. David Harding conducts research in the measurement and analysis of neotectonic landforms, vegetation canopies and continental water storage and discharge, in particular by utilizing advanced airborne and space-based laser altimeter systems. He is a founding member of, and represents NASA in, the Puget Sound Lidar Consortium, (PSLC) which is mapping active fault zones and volcanoes in the Puget Sound region and Cascades Range, WA using very-high resolution, scanning laser altimeter data in order to detect geomorphic signatures of active faults, landslides, and lahar flows hidden beneath dense vegetation cover. He is an affiliate of the Ice, Clouds and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) science team, responsible for developing and validating land topography and vegetation canopy measurements using that missions instrument, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). He is applying ICESat data in studies of surface deformation associated with the 2004 Sumatra - Andaman Islands mega-earthquake and changes in continental water storage and discharge. As Principal Investigator for "Laser Altimeter Validation of SRTM Global Topography" he is utilizing ICESat data in combination with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data to produce improved measurements of global land topography. He is principal investigator for a NASA Instrument Incubator Program project, Push-Broom Laser Altimeter Demonstration for Space-Based Cryospheric Topographic and Surface Property Mapping, and study scientist for the Dynamic Elevation Lidar mission concept. He is also director of the Laser Altimeter Processing Facility (LAPF), which distributes data from the Scanning Lidar Imager of Canopies by Echo Recovery (SLICER), the first and second flights of the Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA), and airborne lidar mapping data sets of Cascade Range, WA volcanoes and seismic zones.

RELATED LINKS:

SLICER

SLA-01

SLA-02

SRTM

ICESat

Puget Sound Lidar Consortium

Laser Altimeter Processing Facility

Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory

Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Goddard Space Flight Center

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

EDUCATION:

1980 - B.S., Geological Sciences, Cornell University

1988 - Ph.D. Geological Sciences, Cornell University

PREVIOUS POSITIONS:

1988-1990 Resident Research Associate, Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics, Goddard Space Flight Center

1990-1991 Assistant Research Faculty, Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS:

Carabajal, C.C., and D.J. Harding, 2005, SRTM C-Band and ICESat Laser Altimetry Elevation Comparisons as a Function of Tree Cover and Relief, Am. Soc. Photogram. Rem. Sens., SRTM Topical Issue, submitted.

Carabajal, C.C. and D.J. Harding, 2005, ICESat Validation of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission C-band Digital Elevation Models, Gephys. Res. Lett. , ICESat Special Issue, in review.

Lefsky, M.A., D.J. Harding, W.B. Cohen, M. Keller, and C.C. Carabajal, 2005, Estimating forest canopy height from Geoscience Laser Altimeter System waveforms and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation models, Gephys. Res. Lett. , ICESat Special Issue, in review.

Harding, D.J., and C.C. Carabajal, 2005, ICESat Waveform Measurements of Within-footprint Topographic Relief and Vegetation Vertical Structure, Gephys. Res. Lett. , ICESat Special Issue, in press.

Birkett, C.M., D. Alsdorf and D.J. Harding, 2005, Hydrological applications of remote sensing: Surface state - river and water body stage, width and gradient from satellite radar altimetry, interferometric SAR, and laser altimetry, in Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciences: Remote Sensing, John Wiley and Sons, in press.

Johnson, S.Y., and 10 others, 2005, Evidence for Late Holocene Earthquakes on the Utsalady Point Fault, Northern Puget Lowland, Washington, Bull. Seismological Soc. Am., in press.

Parker, G.G., D.J. Harding and M.L. Berger, 2004, A portable lidar system for rapid determination of forest canopy structure, Journal of Applied Ecology, 41: 755-767.

Haugerud, R., D.J. Harding, S.Y. Johnson, J.L. Harless, C.S. Weaver, and B.L. Sherrod, 2003, High-resolution topography of the Puget Lowland, Washington - A bonanza for earth science, GSA Today, 13(6): 4 - 10.

Lefsky, M.A., W.B. Cohen, D.J. Harding, G.G. Parker, S.A. Acker, and S.T. Gower, 2002, Lidar remote sensing of aboveground biomass in three biomes, Global Ecology and Biogeography, 11(5): 393-399.

Zwally, H.J., R. Schutz, W. Abdalati, J. Abshire, C. Bentley, J. Bufton, D. Harding, T. Herring, B. Minster, J. Spinhirne and R. Thomas, 2002, ICESat's laser measurements of polar ice, atmosphere, ocean, and land, Journal of Geodynamics, 34(3-4), 405-445.

Harding, D.J., M.A. Lefsky, G.G. Parker, J.B. Blair, 2001, Laser altimeter canopy height profiles: Methods and validation for deciduous, broadleaf forests, Rem. Sens. Environ., 76(3): 283-297.

Parker, G.G., M.A. Lefsky, D.J. Harding, 2001, Light transmittance in forest canopies determined using airborne laser altimetry and in-canopy quantum measurements, Rem. Sens. Environ. , 76(3): 298-309.

Ebinger, C.J., T. Yemane, D.J. Harding, S. Tesfaye, S. Kelley and D.C. Rex, 2000, Rift deflection, migration, and propagation: Linkage of theEthiopian and Eastern rifts, Africa, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. , 112(2):163-176

Rowlands, D.R., C.C. Carabajal, S.B. Luthcke, D.J. Harding, J.M. Sauber, and J.L. Bufton, 2000, Satellite laser altimetry: on-orbit calibration techniques for precise geolocation, The Review of Laser Engineering, 28(12): 796-803.

Lefsky, M., Cohen, W., Acker, S., Parker, G., Spies, T., and Harding, D., 1999, Lidar remote sensing of biophysical properties and canopy structure of forests of Douglas-fir and western hemlock, Rem. Sensing of Environ. , 70(3):339-361.

Means, J.E., S.A. Acker, D.J. Harding, J.B. Blair, M.A. Lefsky, W.B. Cohen, M.E. Harmon, W.A. McKee, 1999, Use of a large-footprint scanning airborne lidar to estimate forest stand characteristics in the western Cascades of Oregon, Rem. Sensing of Environ. , 67:298-308.

Lefsky, M.A., D.J. Harding, G.G. Parker, and H.H. Shugart, 1999, Surface lidar remote sensing of basal area and biomass in deciduous forests of Eastern Maryland, USA, Rem. Sensing of Environ. , 67: 83-98.

Garvin, J., J. Bufton, J. Blair, D. Harding, S. Luthcke, J. Frawley, and D. Rowlands, 1998, Observations of the Earth's topography from the Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA): laser-pulse echo-recovery measurements of terrestrial surfaces, Phys. Chem. of the Earth,, 23: 1053-1068.

Weishampel, J.F., K.J. Ranson, and D.J. Harding, 1996, Remote Sensing of Forest Canopies, Selbyana, 17:6-14.

Weissel, J., A. Malinverno, D. Harding, and G. Karner, 1995, Erosion Dynamics and Patterns on the Ethiopian Plateau of Northeast Africa: A Fractal Process, in Fractals in Petroleum Geology and Earth Processses, C. Bartonand and P. La Pointe, eds., Plenum Press, 127-142.

Harding, D.J., J.L. Bufton, and J.J. Frawley, 1994, Laser Altimetry of Terrestrial Topography: Vertical Accuracy as a Function of Surface Slope, Roughness, and Cloud Cover, IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 32:329-339.

Wirth, K.R., J.M. Bird, A.E. Blythe, D.J. Harding, and M.T. Heirtzler, 1993, Age and Evolution of Western Brooks Range Ophiolites, Alaska: Results from 40Ar/39Ar Thermochronometry, Tectonics, 12: 410-432.

Guinness, E.A., R.E. Arvidson, J.R. Irons, and D.J. Harding, 1991, Surface Scattering Properties Estimated from Modeling ASAS Multiple Emission Angle Reflectance Data over the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, Nevada, Geophys. Res. Lett., 18: 2051-2054.

Asfaw, B., C. Ebinger, D. Harding, T. White, G. Woldegabriel, 1990, Space-based imagery in paleioanthropological research - An Ethiopian Example, National Geographic Research, 6(4): 418-434.

Harding, D.J., K.R. Wirth, J.M. Bird, 1989, Spectral Mapping of Alaskan ophiolites using Landsat Thematic Mapper Data, Rem. Sens. Environ. , 28: 219-232.

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM and REPORTS:

Chao, B., D. Harding, S. Cohen, S. Luthcke, M. Hofton, J.B. Blair, J., 2003, Global Earthquake Satellite System Requirements Derived from a Suite of Scientific Observational and Modeling Studies: Final Reports for the Global Earthquake Satellite System: A 20-Year Plan to Enable Earthquake Prediction, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Brenner, A. C., H. J. Zwally, C. R. Bentley, B. M. Csath¢, D. J. Harding, M. A. Hofton, J. B. Minster, L. Roberts, J. L. Saba, R. H. Thomas, D. Yi., 2003, Derivation of Range and Range Distributions From Laser Pulse Waveform Analysis for Surface Elevations, Roughness, Slope, and Vegetation Heights, Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, Version 4.1, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA, unpublished, http://www.csr.utexas.edu/glas/atbd.html, 92 pp.

Harding, D.J., J.B. Blair, D.L. Rabine, and K.L. Still, 2000, SLICER airborne laser altimeter characterization of canopy structure and sub-canopy topography for the BOREAS Northern and Southern Study Regions: Instrument and Data Product Description, Volume 93 in Technical Report Series on the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS), F.G. Hall and J. Nickeson, Eds., NASA/TM-2000-209891, Vol. 93, 45 pp.

Jansma, P., G. Mattioli, D. Harding, and A. Matias 1999, Northeastern Caribbean Topography Gets a Digital Upgrade from Laser Altimetry, EOS, Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 80(43): 511.

Farr, T., D. Evans, H. Zebker, D. Harding, J. Bufton, T. Dixon, S. Vetrella, and D. Gesch, 1995, The Global Topography Mission, EOS, Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 76(21): 213 & 76(22): 225.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Carabajal, C.C., D.J. Harding, J.L. Bufton, S.B. Luthcke and D.D. Rowlands, 2003, ICESat Geolocation and Land Products Validation: Laser Altimetry Profile and Waveform Matching, Proceedings of ISPRS workshop on 3D mapping from InSAR and Lidar, Portland, OR.

Luthcke, S.B., D.D. Rowlands, D.J. Harding, J.L. Bufton, C.C. Carabajal, and T.A. Williams, 2003, ICESat laser altimeter pointing, ranging, and timing calibration from integrated residual anlaysis: a summary of early mission results, Proceedings of NASA Flight Mechanics Symposium Conference,, Greenbelt, MD.

Haugerud, R.A. and D.J. Harding, 2001, Some Algorithms for Virtual Deforestation (VDF) of LIDAR Topographic Survey Data, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Vol. XXXIV, Part 3/W4, Commission III, pp. 211-217.

Carabajal, C.C. and D.J. Harding, 2001, Evaluation of Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Waveforms for Vegetated Landscapes Using Laser Altimeter Scanning Data, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Vol. XXXIV, Part 3/W4, Commission 3, pp. 125-128.

Harding, D.J., and G.S. Berghoff, 2000, Fault scarp detection beneath dense vegetation cover: airborne lidar mapping of the Seattle fault zone, Bainbridge Island, Washington State, Proceedings of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May, 2000, 9 pp.

Wulder, M.A., S. Magnussen, D. Harding, P.A. Boudewyn and D. Seeman, 2000, Stability of surface LIDAR height estimates on a point and polygon basis, Remote Sensing and Spatial Data Integration: Measuring, Monitoring and Modelling, Proceedings: 22nd Symposium of the Canadian Remote Sensing Society, August 20-25, 2000, Victoria, British Columbia, pp. 433-438.

Lefsky, M., D. Harding, W. Cohen, G. Parker, and S. Acker, 1999, Progress in lidar altimeter remote sensing of stand structure and composition in deciduous and coniferous forests using SLICER data, Proc. ISPRS Workshop Mapping Surface Structure and Topography by Airborne and Spaceborne Lasers, La Jolla, CA, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing,, 32(3-W14):23-30.

Harding, D.J., D.B. Gesch, C.C. Carabajal and S.B. Luthcke, 1999, Application of the Shuttle Laser Altimeter in an Accuracy Assessment of GTOPO30, a Global 1-Kilometer Digital Elevation Model, Proc. ISPRS Workshop Mapping Surface Structure and Topography by Airborne and Spaceborne Lasers, LaJolla, CA, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 32(3-W14) 81-85.

Carabajal, C.C., D.J. Harding, S.B. Luthcke, W. Fong, S.C. Rowton, and J.J. Frawley, 1999, Processing of Shuttle Laser Altimeter range and return pulse energy data in support of SLA-02, Proc. ISPRS Workshop Mapping Surface Structure and Topography by Airborne and Spaceborne Lasers, La Jolla, CA, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 32(3-W14):65-72.

Harding, D.J., 1998, Airborne Lidar Observations of Canopy Structure at the BOREAS Tower Flux Sites, Proc. IGARSS'98, Seattle, 1550-1552.

Lefsky, M.A., W.B. Cohen, S. A. Acker, T.A. Spies, G.G. Parker, and D. Harding, 1998, Lidar remote sensing of forest canopy structure and related biophysical parameters at the H.J. Andrews experimental forest, Oregon, USA, Proc. IGARSS'98, Seattle, 1252-1254.

Harding, D.J., J.B. Blair, E. Rodriquez, and T. Michel, 1995, Airborne Laser Altimetry and Interferometric SAR Measurements of Canopy Structure and Sub-Canopy Topography in the Pacific Northwest, Proc. Second Topical Symposiumon Combined Optical-Microwave Earth and Atmosphere Sensing, Atlanta, 22-24.

Harding, D.J., J.B. Blair, J.B. Garvin, and W.T. Lawrence, 1994, Laser Altimetry Waveform Measurement of Vegetation Canopy Structure, Proc. IGARSS'94, 2: 1251-1253.

Blair, J.B., D.B. Coyle, J.L. Bufton, and D.J. Harding, 1994, Optimization of an Airborne Laser Altimeter for Remote Sensing of Vegetation and Tree Canopies, Proc. IGARSS'94, 2: 939-941.

Harding, D.J., and J. Irons, 1990, Bidirectional Radiance of Playa and Volcanic Surfaces; Advanced Solid-state Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) Measurements of Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, Nevada, Proc. IGARSS'90, 2:1361-1364.

Harding, D.J., and J.M. Bird, 1984, Mapping ultramafic rock using Landsat data: the Josephine peridotite, Oregon and California, Proc. Int. Symp. Rem. Sens. Environ., Third Thematic Conf., Rem. Sens.for Explor. Geology, 695-709.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

American Geophysical Union

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

2005: Review Panel, ESS Graduate Fellowships, NASA Solid Earth and Interior Program

2003: Contributor, Global Earthquake Satellite System (GESS) study, Jet Propulsion Lab

2002: Contributor, Living on a Restless Planet, NASA Solid Earth Science Working Group Report

2002: Review Panel, Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Pre-ship Review

2002: Review Panel, Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Pre-environmental Review

2002-03: Member, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Independent Review Team

2002: Review Panel, NASA Solid Earth and Natural Hazards Research Announcement

2001: Review Panel, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Instrument Selection

1999: Review Panel, Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) Mission Operations Critical Design

1999: Review Panel, Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Critical Design Review

1998: Review Panel, VCL Ground Segment and Software Critical Design Review

1998: Review Panel, Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Preliminary Design Review

1998: Review Panel, NASA Solid Earth and Natural Hazards Research Announcement

1997: Participant, LBA-Ecology Remote Sensing Instrumentation Workshop, NASA Ecological Processes and Modeling Program

1995: Participant, Remote Sensing Sciences Workshop, NASA Ecological Processes and Modeling Program

1995 : Review Panel, GSFC Graduate Student Research Program

1994: Review Panel, Topography and Surface Change Program, NASA Solid Earth Processes Branch

1994: Participant, Workshop on the Use of Satellites in Natural Disaster Reduction, NASA Solid Earth Processes Branch

1994: Participant, SAR Interferometry and Surface Change Detection Workshop, NASA Solid Earth Processes Branch

1993: Participant, Airborne Geophysics Workshop, Committee on Geodesy, National Academy of Sciences

1992 : Review Panel, GSFC Graduate Student Research Program

1992: Convener, Special Session on Digital Topographic Data, AGU Chapman Conference on Tectonics and Topography

1990-1993: Participant, Joint NASA - Italian Space Agency Topographic Mission Concept Working Group

1989-1990 Participant, NASA Geologic Remote Sensing Field Experiment

1985-1987 Participant, NASA Thematic Mapper in the Earth Sciences Program

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE:

2004-2005: Advisor, National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow

2001: Mentor, National Space Club Scholars program

2000: Mentor, National Space Club Scholars program

1999-2002: Member, Ta Liang Award Selection Committee for ASPRS

1995-1997: Committee Member, Michael Lefsky, Ph.D., Dept. of Environmental Sci., Univ. of Virginia, (H. Shugart, Chair)

1996: Mentor, NASA Visiting Scientist summer research program

1995: Mentor, NASA Space Academy summer research program

1992-1994: Lecturer, USRA Graduate Student Summer Program in the Earth Sciences

1992-1993: Committee Member, Charles S. Southworth, Ms., Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Maryland, (E. McLellan, Chair)

1991-1992: Committee Member, Cheryl H. Petrina, Ms., Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Maryland, (E. McLellan, Chair)

AWARDS and HONORS: