Sharp Look from Orbit

EarthzineArticles, Disasters, Earth Observation, Original, Sections

Figure 3: Average daily rainfall (shaded and units of millimeters) from June-August (200-2006) composited for days with weak atmospheric forcing (lef). The 5 mm contour is shown in blue and the yellow boxes represent the mean upwind (left box), city (center box), and downwind (right box) regions. Lightning flash anomalies (May to September, 1995‰ÛÒ2003) on days dominated by weak atmospheric forcing (right) in Atlanta, Georgia. Image sources: [4] and [5], respectively.

Image of a C-17 Globemaster III delivering humanitarian aid to Haiti via parachute drops. The earthquake in Haiti, a human tragedy on the ground, has brought requests to remote sensing and geosciences experts from humanitarian relief agencies for help in mapping the disaster. This article, originally published 19 January 2010 by Der Standard, quotes Earthzine Deputy Editor Christoph Aubrecht, who is a remote sensing and geoinformation scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology working on geospatial issues of disaster management. Aubrecht translated and adapted this article for Earthzine.

AIRNow-International: The Future of the United States Real-time Air Quality Reporting and Forecasting Program with GEOSS participation

EarthzineArticles, Earth Observation, GEO/GEOSS News, Health, Original, Sections, Technology, Weather

Small image of the AIRNow Air Quality Index ranging from Good to Hazardous.The goal of AIRNow-International is to strengthen relationships among governments and international organizations by sharing the technology to transform air quality data into vital information. AIRNow-International is poised to become the centerpiece of the United States Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) real-time air quality reporting and forecasting program. The system is a redesign of the AIRNow information technology infrastructure that distributes current air quality information for the United States and Canada. The AIRNow-International software suite is being built to support and embrace the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) concept.

Space-bound in South Africa: A Down-to-Earth Conversation With Dr. Phil Mjwara

EarthzineArticles, Earth Observation, Original, People, Sections, Technology

Closeup of Dr. Phil MjwaraA month after South Africa succesfully launched it’s second Earth observation satellite, Sumbandila, Earthzine contributor Peter Fairley talks with Dr. Philemon Mjwara, Director General of South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology, about the launch, the benefits South Africa expects to reap from the satellite, and what’s in store for the future of developing countries’ involvement in Earth observation and sustainability.

Education Around Earth – Analyzing the Spatial Distribution of 4 Crops with a Geographic Information System

EarthzineAgriculture, Articles, Education, Feature, Featured Article, Original, Sections

Cropped image of a cotton bollFor centuries, maps have stirred imaginations and inspired explorations of the unknown. For the past 40 years, GIS has quietly transformed everyday decision making in academia, government, nonprofit, and in business through the manipulation of satellite imagery, maps, graphs, databases, and multimedia in a decision-making framework. Agriculture was one of the first fields to embrace GIS, applied to everything from precision agriculture to invasive weed eradication to sustainable practices.

Indigenous Perspectives in GEOSS: An Interview with Dr. Gregory Cajete

EarthzineEarth Observation, Education, Feature, Featured Person, Original, People, Sections, Technology

Cropped image of Dr. Gregory CajeteEarthzine’s Editor-In-Chief Paul Racette speaks with Dr. Gregory Cajete – a Tewa Indian from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico and author of five books on Native American education, history and philosophy – about Native American science and the role Indigenous perspectives have in realizing an integrated Earth observing system.