Judith Curry On the Credibility of Climate Research

EarthzineClimate, Feature, Featured Person, OpEd, Original, Politics, Sections

Cropped portrait photo of Judith CurryJudith A. Curry, Ph.D. is professor and chairperson of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests include remote sensing, climate of the polar regions, atmospheric modeling, and air/sea interactions. The Op-Ed posted here addresses her views on what has become a global controversy about climate science. Her stated aim is to stimulate constructive debate by this essay about the critical scientific research on climate, and about the roles and responsibilities of scientists. Comments are welcome on this and every Earthzine article.

Study Calls for Improved Spectrum Management to Protect Earth Observations

EarthzineArticles, Earth Observation, OpEd, Original, Politics, Sections, Technology

Map of portugal showing burned areas

Cropped RFI interference map for AMSR-E showing areas where obviously noticeable amounts of interference exists (image courtesy NASA).The proliferation of wireless communications and other active services such as radars and radio location devices blinds us from seeing the natural electromagnetic emissions necessary, for example, for monitoring the ocean temperature and studying the formation of stars. Scientific use through passive measurement of the radio spectrum is important ‰ÛÏto enhance public safety, environmental security, and extend human knowledge of the Earth and the larger universe.‰Û The authors, members of a U.S. National Research Council committee investigating this problem, recommend action.

Directing the Evolution of GEOSS Technical Architecture

EarthzineArticles, Earth Observation, GEO/GEOSS News, OpEd, Original, Sections

Cropped image of Haitian flooding“As a “system of systems”, GEOSS is composed of contributed Earth Observation systems, ranging from primary data collection systems to systems for the creation and distribution of information products. Although all GEOSS systems continue to operate within their own mandates, GEOSS systems can leverage each other so that the overall GEOSS becomes much more than the sum of its component systems. This synergy develops as each contributor supports common arrangements designed to make shared observations and products more accessible, comparable, and understandable.” In this opinion editorial, George Percivall, chief architect of the GEOSS Interoperability Program, describes the remarkable progress that GEOSS builders have already made.

Save Our Planet, Save Our Health

EarthzineHealth, In-Depth, OpEd, Original, Sections, Sustainability

Cropped image of New York pollutionThere is a definite cause-effect relationship between the environment and human health, one of direct dependency. To put it in simple terms, the healthier the Earth is, the healthier its inhabitants. It’s something that is pretty obvious if only we stop to think about it, but since most of us are busy with our own lives, we fail to see how the two are interlinked.

Education Around Earth – Coyote Mentoring: One School’s Lessons in Earth Observation

EarthzineArticles, Education, OpEd, Original, Sustainability

Cropped image of a teen fireCoyote Mentoring: One School’s Lessons in Nature Awareness gives a snapshot of the direction that Earth observation should be taking in the classroom, says Associate Editor for Education David Mullins, Ph.D. “It’s especially pertinent to teaching the present generation. Educators are beginning to recognize that kids are less and less impressed with computers; they aren’t new and exciting to them. In their digitally ubiquitous worlds (e.g., email, discussion boards, chat rooms, blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, IM, text messaging, and Flickr) kids quickly discover that getting your hands dirty during a fossil hunt and your feet wet doing water quality testing is both fun and educational. So, I think this article is in line with the evolving STEM literature implicating the gender and cultural foundations of science education and the need for measurement and observation in the physical environment for future scientists to truly appreciate the data they see on computer monitors.”

Education Around Earth – High School Students Debate Federal Incentives for Alternative Energy

EarthzineArticles, Education, Energy, OpEd, Original, Sections

Cropped image of map of ocean surface temperaturesDuring the week of June 15, 2009, an estimated 3,500 high school students from across the U.S. debated the politics, challenges, advantages, and science of federal incentives for alternative energy at the National Forensic League (NFL) National Speech and Debate Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. This year’s national topic was, “Resolved: That the United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States” and those participating had to win district tournaments in their respective states in order to advance to the national competition.