Filling in the blank spots

New software is helping scientists get a more complete view of the environment from satellites that orbit the earth.

Maps that depict the thickness of the ozone layer, for instance, frequently contain blank spots where a satellite wasn’t able to record data on a particular day, explained Noel Cressie, professor of statistics and director of the Program in Spatial Statistics and Environmental Sciences (SSES) at Ohio State University.

He and his colleagues found a way to use data from the rest of a map as well as from previous days to fill in the blank spots. The same technique could be used in studies of agricultural data or even medical imaging.

When it comes to mapping the environment, satellites gather so much data every day that filling in the missing parts quickly is a challenge.

“Right now, from a statistical point of view, people can either fill in these maps well, but not very fast – or fill them in fast but not very well,” Cressie said. “We do it well and we do it fast.”