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Niky C Taylor

Niky researches marine and aquatic systems using remote sensing and leads communication projects for USGS and the Department of the Interior.

Introduction to Aquatic Remote Sensing

Satellite image showing south San Francisco Bay with multicolored salt ponds, salt marshes, and urban development
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Department of the Interior Remote Sensing Activities

Landsat satellites from 1972 to present moving above the Earth. T
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Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

Photo of an USGS scientists using a spectroradiometer
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Niky is an ocean scientist by training, with a background in multi- and hyperspectral remote sensing of coastal and estuarine systems. Her research incorporates remote sensing and radiometric measurements of water and land at multiple scales, encompassing everything from ship-based radiometry to airborne and satellite data processing. Niky’s work is largely focused on creating data products that help inform on ecosystem condition and water quality.

Niky also works on science communication, outreach, and education. She currently serves as the lead editor for the Department of the Interior Remote Sensing Activities report supported by the National Land Imaging Program. Niky has also created educational materials on aquatic remote sensing and other topics for USGS, and has taught a variety of introductory oceanography and climate courses.

Professional Experience

  • Oceanography Instructor - West Valley Community College

  • Research Mentor - NASA Student Airborne Research Program

  • Research Assistant - University of New Mexico Institute of Meteoritics

Education and Certifications

  • MS Ocean Science - UC Santa Cruz - 2021

  • BS Environmental Science - University of New Mexico - 2017

Science and Products

Satellite image of South San Francisco Bay

Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
Learn More

Intertidal biofilm remote sensing paired spectra-biofilm training and validation data, South San Francisco Bay Intertidal biofilm remote sensing paired spectra-biofilm training and validation data, South San Francisco Bay

Intertidal microbial biofilms, or microphytobenthos, support estuarine biogeochemical cycling, the physical stability of mudflats, and food webs, particularly those of migratory shorebirds. Photosynthetic biofilms dominated by diatoms, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes represent a significant fraction of biofilm biomass and contain pigments that can be detected with remote sensing. These...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California

Microbial biofilm communities are composed of fungi, bacteria, and phytoplankton taxonomic groups (e.g., cyanobacteria, diatoms, and chlorophytes), which inhabit the surface of intertidal mudflats. Such biofilms have critical roles in shorebird diets, mudflat stabilization, primary productivity, and carbon storage. These raster datasets represent the presence, nutritional quality...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Biofilm Percent Cover Maps in San Francisco Bay, 2020-2022 Biofilm Percent Cover Maps in San Francisco Bay, 2020-2022

This data release includes 9 GeoTIFF rasters that represent percent cover of intertidal microbial biofilm on the mudflats of South San Francisco Bay, CA between June 2020, and June 2022. Rasters follow the naming scheme biofilmPC_YYYYMMDD_10m.tif, where “biofilmPC” describes the dataset, YYYYMMDD is the date of the image, and 10m is the spatial resolution of the raster. Raster data...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
No results found.

Multi-scale spectroscopy to map intertidal microbial biofilm community and trait diversity Multi-scale spectroscopy to map intertidal microbial biofilm community and trait diversity

Intertidal microbial biofilms, or microphytobenthos, support estuarine biogeochemical cycling, the physical stability of mudflats, and food webs, particularly those of migratory shorebirds. Photosynthetic biofilms dominated by diatoms, cyanobacteria, and chlorophytes represent a significant fraction of biofilm biomass and contain pigments that can be detected with remote sensing. These...
Authors
Kristin Byrd, Sherry L. Palacios, Nicole Taylor, Isa Woo, Stacy M Moskal, Raymond Kokaly, Todd Hoefen, John Chapman, Susan De La Cruz
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Unlocking ecological insights from sub-seasonal visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy: The SHIFT campaign Unlocking ecological insights from sub-seasonal visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy: The SHIFT campaign

We stand at the threshold of a transformative era in Earth observation, marked by space-borne visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometers that promise consistent global observations of ecosystem function, phenology, and inter- and intra-annual change. However, the full value of repeat spectroscopy, the information embedded within different temporal scales, and the...
Authors
K. Chadwick, Frank W. Davis, Kimberley Miner, Ryan Pavlick, Mark Reynolds, Philip Townsend, Philip Brodrick, Christiana Ade, Jean Allen, Leander D. L. Anderegg, Yoseline Angel, Indra Boving, Kristin Byrd, Petya Campbell, Luke Carberry, Katherine Cavanaugh, Kyle Cavanaugh, Kelly Easterday, Regina Eckert, Michelle Gierach, Kaitlin Gold, Erin Hestir, Fred Huemmrich, Maggie Klope, Raymond Kokaly, Piper Lovegreen, Kelly Luis, Conor McMahon, Nicholas Nidzieko, Francisco Ochoa, Anna Ongjoco, Elsa Ordway, Madeleine Pascolini-Campbell, Natalie Queally, Dar Roberts, Clare Saiki, Fabian Schneider, Alexey Shiklomanov, German Silva, Jordan Snyder, Michele Thornton, Anna Trugman, Nidhi Vinod, Ting Zheng, Dulcinea M. Avouris, Brianna Baker, Latha Baskaran, Tom Bell, Megan Berg, Michael Bernas, Niklas Bohn, Renato Braghiere, Zach Breuer, Andrew Brooks, Nolan Burkard, Julia Burmistrova, Kerry-Anne Cawse-Nicholson, John Chapman, Johana Chazaro-Haraksin, Joel Cryer, K.C. Cushman, Kyla M. Dahlin, Phuong Dao, Athena DiBartolo, Michael Eastwood, Clayton Elder, Angela Giordani, Kathleen Grant, Robert Green, Alexa Hanson, Brendan Heberlein, Mark Helmlinger, Simon Hook, Daniel Jensen, Emma Johnson, Marie Johnson, Michael Kiper, Christopher Kibler, Jennifer King, Kyle Kovach, Aaron Kreisberg, Daniel Lacey, Evan Lang, Christine Lee, Amanda M Lopez, Brittany Lopez Barreto, Andrew Maguire, Elliott Marsh, Charles Miller, Dieu My Nguyen, Cassandra Nickles, Jonathan Ocón, Elijah Papen, Maria Park, Benjamin Poulter, Ann Raiho, Porter Reim, Timothy J. Robinson, Fernando Romero Galvan, Ethan Shafron, Brenen R. Skalitzky, Sydney Stroschein, Nicole Taylor, David Thompson, Kate Thompson, Cecily Tye, Joelie Van Beek, Cecilia Vanden Heuvel, Jonathan Vellanoweth, Evert Vermeer, Claire Villanueva-Weeks, Kristen Zumdahl, David Schimel
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Variation in leaf reflectance spectra across the California flora partitioned by evolutionary history, geographic origin, and deep time Variation in leaf reflectance spectra across the California flora partitioned by evolutionary history, geographic origin, and deep time

Evolutionary relatedness underlies patterns of functional diversity in the natural world. Hyperspectral remote sensing has the potential to detect these patterns in plants through inherited patterns of leaf reflectance spectra. We collected leaf reflectance data from across the California flora from plants grown in a common garden. Regions of the reflectance spectra vary in the depth and...
Authors
Daniel M. Griffith, Kristin Byrd, Nicole Taylor, Elijah Allan, Liz Bittner, Bart O’Brien, V. Parker, Michael Vasey, Ryan Pavlick, Ramakrishna Nemani
By
National Innovation Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Taylor, N.C.; Kudela, R.M. Spatial Variability of Suspended Sediments in San Francisco Bay, California. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 4625. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13224625

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Using Spectral Imaging to Map Vital Mudflat Microbial Life in San Francisco Bay

Using Spectral Imaging to Map Vital Mudflat Microbial Life in San Francisco Bay

In newly published research, USGS scientists mapped ecologically vital microbial biofilm communities that thrive on intertidal mudflats—using remote...

Read Article
Mapping Mercury in San Francisco Bay

Mapping Mercury in San Francisco Bay

Scientists at the USGS are tracking mercury pollution in the Bay using remote sensing technology, creating detailed maps to monitor mercury pollution...

Read Article

Science and Products

Satellite image of South San Francisco Bay

Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
Learn More

Intertidal biofilm remote sensing paired spectra-biofilm training and validation data, South San Francisco Bay Intertidal biofilm remote sensing paired spectra-biofilm training and validation data, South San Francisco Bay

Intertidal microbial biofilms, or microphytobenthos, support estuarine biogeochemical cycling, the physical stability of mudflats, and food webs, particularly those of migratory shorebirds. Photosynthetic biofilms dominated by diatoms, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes represent a significant fraction of biofilm biomass and contain pigments that can be detected with remote sensing. These...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California

Microbial biofilm communities are composed of fungi, bacteria, and phytoplankton taxonomic groups (e.g., cyanobacteria, diatoms, and chlorophytes), which inhabit the surface of intertidal mudflats. Such biofilms have critical roles in shorebird diets, mudflat stabilization, primary productivity, and carbon storage. These raster datasets represent the presence, nutritional quality...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Biofilm Percent Cover Maps in San Francisco Bay, 2020-2022 Biofilm Percent Cover Maps in San Francisco Bay, 2020-2022

This data release includes 9 GeoTIFF rasters that represent percent cover of intertidal microbial biofilm on the mudflats of South San Francisco Bay, CA between June 2020, and June 2022. Rasters follow the naming scheme biofilmPC_YYYYMMDD_10m.tif, where “biofilmPC” describes the dataset, YYYYMMDD is the date of the image, and 10m is the spatial resolution of the raster. Raster data...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
No results found.

Multi-scale spectroscopy to map intertidal microbial biofilm community and trait diversity Multi-scale spectroscopy to map intertidal microbial biofilm community and trait diversity

Intertidal microbial biofilms, or microphytobenthos, support estuarine biogeochemical cycling, the physical stability of mudflats, and food webs, particularly those of migratory shorebirds. Photosynthetic biofilms dominated by diatoms, cyanobacteria, and chlorophytes represent a significant fraction of biofilm biomass and contain pigments that can be detected with remote sensing. These...
Authors
Kristin Byrd, Sherry L. Palacios, Nicole Taylor, Isa Woo, Stacy M Moskal, Raymond Kokaly, Todd Hoefen, John Chapman, Susan De La Cruz
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Unlocking ecological insights from sub-seasonal visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy: The SHIFT campaign Unlocking ecological insights from sub-seasonal visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy: The SHIFT campaign

We stand at the threshold of a transformative era in Earth observation, marked by space-borne visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometers that promise consistent global observations of ecosystem function, phenology, and inter- and intra-annual change. However, the full value of repeat spectroscopy, the information embedded within different temporal scales, and the...
Authors
K. Chadwick, Frank W. Davis, Kimberley Miner, Ryan Pavlick, Mark Reynolds, Philip Townsend, Philip Brodrick, Christiana Ade, Jean Allen, Leander D. L. Anderegg, Yoseline Angel, Indra Boving, Kristin Byrd, Petya Campbell, Luke Carberry, Katherine Cavanaugh, Kyle Cavanaugh, Kelly Easterday, Regina Eckert, Michelle Gierach, Kaitlin Gold, Erin Hestir, Fred Huemmrich, Maggie Klope, Raymond Kokaly, Piper Lovegreen, Kelly Luis, Conor McMahon, Nicholas Nidzieko, Francisco Ochoa, Anna Ongjoco, Elsa Ordway, Madeleine Pascolini-Campbell, Natalie Queally, Dar Roberts, Clare Saiki, Fabian Schneider, Alexey Shiklomanov, German Silva, Jordan Snyder, Michele Thornton, Anna Trugman, Nidhi Vinod, Ting Zheng, Dulcinea M. Avouris, Brianna Baker, Latha Baskaran, Tom Bell, Megan Berg, Michael Bernas, Niklas Bohn, Renato Braghiere, Zach Breuer, Andrew Brooks, Nolan Burkard, Julia Burmistrova, Kerry-Anne Cawse-Nicholson, John Chapman, Johana Chazaro-Haraksin, Joel Cryer, K.C. Cushman, Kyla M. Dahlin, Phuong Dao, Athena DiBartolo, Michael Eastwood, Clayton Elder, Angela Giordani, Kathleen Grant, Robert Green, Alexa Hanson, Brendan Heberlein, Mark Helmlinger, Simon Hook, Daniel Jensen, Emma Johnson, Marie Johnson, Michael Kiper, Christopher Kibler, Jennifer King, Kyle Kovach, Aaron Kreisberg, Daniel Lacey, Evan Lang, Christine Lee, Amanda M Lopez, Brittany Lopez Barreto, Andrew Maguire, Elliott Marsh, Charles Miller, Dieu My Nguyen, Cassandra Nickles, Jonathan Ocón, Elijah Papen, Maria Park, Benjamin Poulter, Ann Raiho, Porter Reim, Timothy J. Robinson, Fernando Romero Galvan, Ethan Shafron, Brenen R. Skalitzky, Sydney Stroschein, Nicole Taylor, David Thompson, Kate Thompson, Cecily Tye, Joelie Van Beek, Cecilia Vanden Heuvel, Jonathan Vellanoweth, Evert Vermeer, Claire Villanueva-Weeks, Kristen Zumdahl, David Schimel
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Variation in leaf reflectance spectra across the California flora partitioned by evolutionary history, geographic origin, and deep time Variation in leaf reflectance spectra across the California flora partitioned by evolutionary history, geographic origin, and deep time

Evolutionary relatedness underlies patterns of functional diversity in the natural world. Hyperspectral remote sensing has the potential to detect these patterns in plants through inherited patterns of leaf reflectance spectra. We collected leaf reflectance data from across the California flora from plants grown in a common garden. Regions of the reflectance spectra vary in the depth and...
Authors
Daniel M. Griffith, Kristin Byrd, Nicole Taylor, Elijah Allan, Liz Bittner, Bart O’Brien, V. Parker, Michael Vasey, Ryan Pavlick, Ramakrishna Nemani
By
National Innovation Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Taylor, N.C.; Kudela, R.M. Spatial Variability of Suspended Sediments in San Francisco Bay, California. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 4625. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13224625

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Using Spectral Imaging to Map Vital Mudflat Microbial Life in San Francisco Bay

Using Spectral Imaging to Map Vital Mudflat Microbial Life in San Francisco Bay

In newly published research, USGS scientists mapped ecologically vital microbial biofilm communities that thrive on intertidal mudflats—using remote...

Read Article
Mapping Mercury in San Francisco Bay

Mapping Mercury in San Francisco Bay

Scientists at the USGS are tracking mercury pollution in the Bay using remote sensing technology, creating detailed maps to monitor mercury pollution...

Read Article
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