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NASA Detects Tijuana River Wastewater Plume from Space

10/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

NASA's imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station detected a wastewater plume from the Tijuana River.
Researchers led by Eva Scrivner of the University of Connecticut identified a dip in reflectance at 620 nanometers correlating with wastewater.
The method allows tracking contamination without sampling and helps health agencies pinpoint testing areas after storms.
As repairs progress under a binational agreement, satellite data will assess effectiveness and support coastal pollution monitoring.

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Story summary

NASA's imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station detected a wastewater plume from the Tijuana River.
Researchers led by Eva Scrivner of the University of Connecticut identified a dip in reflectance at 620 nanometers correlating with wastewater.
The method allows tracking contamination without sampling and helps health agencies pinpoint testing areas after storms.
As repairs progress under a binational agreement, satellite data will assess effectiveness and support coastal pollution monitoring.