Assessing the planet Earth
Assessing the planet EarthKeywords:Sensors, NASA
Data from a recently launched satellite observatory should help scientists better model the impact of humankind on Earth's ecosystem. NASA's Earth Observing System Satellite, Terra, is the first satellite to monitor daily, and on a global scale, how the Earth's atmosphere, lands, oceans, solar radiation,and life influence one another.
The spacecraft's five sensors are able to measure key metrics including global surface temperatures and spring greening. Also measured were carbon-monoxide concentrations in the lower atmosphere. "Terra data, along with information from surface based and aircraft instruments, provide much needed inputs for Earth science models", explains Yoram Kaufman, a Terra project scientist at NASA. "The data will help us to distinguish between natural and human induced changes and show how the Earth's climate affects the quality of our lives".
The team estimates that the scientific community will complete the first Earth-system models making full use of Terra data by 2005. Terra data will be distributed to researchers world-wide at the cost of reproduction.
For further information visit the Web site at: www.jpl.nasa.gov
