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Projects: Observing EarthPlanetary Report: Planet Earth Special IssueIn the July/August 2008 issue of The Planetary Report, we addressed directly how humanity is changing this planet -- and how we must monitor these changes. Ironically, just as scientists reach a long-sought consensus on climate change, some governments have scaled back their plans to observe Earth from space. This is now an issue for The Planetary Society, with our unique way of seeing Earth as one planet among many. We believe the protection of our home planet is the responsibility of all those who live here, and we must take the utmost care of our home world. The Planetary Report is available only to members of The Planetary Society, but -- in an effort to spread the word about our changing Earth -- we have chosen to share the entire contents of the July/August 2008 issue here. Riders on the Earth TogetherSpecial Issue of The Planetary Reportwith Guest Editor Charles F. Kennel This special issue of The Planetary Report was sponsored in part by Northrop Grumman Corporation. FeaturesEarth Is, After All, A Planet Our planet is changing. Although public debates over why things happen and what to do about them may never be settled, the scientific community has reached that magical state called consensus with the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Amazingly, a group of contentious, jargon-talking researchers managed to write a cohesive document, one that earned them, along with Al Gore, the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007. More>> The
Earth’s Changing Environment as Seen From Space Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere are being watched from space. Earth-orbiting satellites, representing a technology only 50 years old, have transformed our understanding of the planet’s natural variability and enabled us to see how our planet is being modified by human activity. This is a perspective on Earth that previous generations could only dream about. More>> Connecting Policy and Science: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change We climate scientists are planetary physicians. As is true for the findings of medical science, we have learned many things about Earth’s health, but we still have a lot to learn. Our understanding of climate, though incomplete, is already highly useful. For example, we have answered the fundamental question of whether all of us—more than 6 billion humans—by adding to the greenhouse effect, have caused Earth’s atmosphere to warm up in recent decades. The answer is yes. More>> As Riders on the Earth Together: Monitoring Our Changing Planet Everywhere the sun, moon and stars, the climates and weathers, have meanings for people. Though meanings vary, we are alike in all countries and tribes in trying to read what the sky, land and sea say to us." These remarkable words, written by poet Carl Sandburg in 1955, speak clearly to us more than half a century later. Even now, they quietly strike raw nerves and sensitive areas: Are we humans changing the Earth? What are the sky, land, and sea saying to us now? Are we listening? More>> Additional ContentVenus
and Mars, Earth’s Sister Worlds Our Earth is not the only child of its parent star, and as any parent or teacher knows, to understand the behavior of one child, you must consider the siblings. More>> Carl
Sagan—on Venus and Mars In any comprehensive history of the idea of climate change, references to Mars and Venus will keep popping up—and with them, the name Carl Sagan. More>> Here,
There, and Not Quite Everywhere Some of the earthly phenomena that satellites monitor from space also occur on other worlds. Here’s a brief look at those mentioned in this article. More>> Earth Observations: An International Venture Preserving scientists' ability to observe and monitor Earth from space is a high priority not only for the United States but also for the international community as a whole. More>> |
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