South African scientists are collaborating with Nasa to put the country’s flora on the map.

One – possibly two – of the space agency’s specially adapted Gulfstream jets is taking part in the BioSCape biodiversity project to map the Greater Cape Floristic Region as well as surrounding coastal and marine environments, reports DefenceWeb.

Scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and their Nasa counterparts will use airborne imaging spectroscopy, light detecting and ranging (lidar) and field observations to map marine, freshwater and terrestrial species and ecosystems within the region.

After two years of planning, the aircraft will fly at a low level over the west and southern Western Cape for up to six weeks, collecting ultraviolet, visual and thermal imagery. The height and structure of vegetation will also be measured using lidar technology.

Satellites will gather additional data and teams on the ground will make observations at specific locations, logging plants and animals.

The timing of the mapping from October to November coincides with predicted clear weather in the region.

‘This is also a good time for fynbos phenology, as it coincides with the flowering time,’ says Jasper Slingsby, a senior lecturer in plant ecology and global change biology at UCT.

24 October 2023
Image: NASA