1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,630 NASA has taken to the skies of Alaska 2 00:00:04,670 --> 00:00:08,920 An airborne study conducted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service 3 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:13,140 aims to complete a detailed survey of the Tanana Valley Forests 4 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:17,480 The 115 million acres of forest in Interior Alaska 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:24,550 is particularly prone to wild fires and represents 15 percent of all forested land in the U.S. 6 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:29,660 Since the 1950's, 40 to 50 percent of the landscape has been burned 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,550 The study will sample more than 80 percent of the burned areas by plane 8 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:38,370 Live trees can be distinguished from standing dead trees 9 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:43,030 using an instrument that maps the composition and 3D structure of the wilderness