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USGS researchers teamed up for a biological soil crust (biocrust) remote sensing and field data campaign near Moab, Utah in February of 2022. The USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) flew Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS, also known as drones) to capture high-resolution imagery at climate manipulation plots where Research Ecologist Sasha Reed (Southwest Biological Science Center) and others are studying the effects of a warming climate and precipitation changes on biocrust community behavior and composition. 00:05 Sasha Reed points out biocrust located along the trail to the study site. 00:18 Close-up of colorful biocrust including moss, lichen, and cyanobacteria, wet from recent rainfall. 00:24 Close-up of fractal biocrust patterns. 00:31 UAS climbs upward while capturing a top-down view of pilot Matt Burgess standing next to the landing pad. 00:39 UAS footage of the biocrust monitoring plots surrounded by red sandstone buttes. 01:03 UAS slowly flies up and away to capture an expanding aerial perspective of the biocrust study site while researchers collect measurements. 02:29 UAS descends towards the landing pad as remote pilot Matt Burgess again lands the aircraft onto a flat, dust-free surface to complete the flight. USGS video:
