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.

Building a Global Agricultural Monitoring System of Systems: An Overview of the GEO Agriculture Monitoring Task

EarthzineAgriculture, Articles, Earth Observation, Original, Sections

Image of the GEOGlobal Agricultural Monitoring Commounity of Practice logoThe risk of food supply disruptions will continue to grow as our agricultural systems and the land that sustains them respond to the pressures of climate change, energy and water needs and population increases. GEO has a critical role to play, working with its partner organizations to coordinate and secure the necessary global observations for agricultural monitoring. This paper describes recent developments in the GEO Agricultural Monitoring Task (Ag 07-03a)

Announcement – Integrative geospatial science for disaster risk management @ EGU 2010

EarthzineAnnouncements, Disasters, Earth Observation, Original, Sections

Image of the European Geosciences Union 2010 logoThe annual General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union – one of the most prestigious events in the field of geoscience – will take place in Vienna, Austria from 02-07 May 2010. The Assembly will draw a crowd of scientists from all over the world, covering all disciplines of Earth, planetary and space science. Earthzine will support a special session within the Natural Hazards Program Group dedicated to the concept of disaster management, one of the GEOSS societal benefit areas.

Announcement – Earthzine Book Reviews

EarthzineAnnouncements, Original, Reviews, Sections

Image of an open bookEarthzine would like to invite you to submit reviews and recommendations of some good books you’ve read lately! They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama or prose. Thematically, they should address in some way one or more of the nine societal benefit areas of GEOSS: agriculture, biodiversity, climate, disasters, ecosystems, energy, health, water, weather; also oceans and sustainability.

Announcement – GEO-IGOS Symposium: "The Need for Earth Observations: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"

EarthzineAnnouncements, Earth Observation, GEO/GEOSS News, Original

Cropped image of the national museum natural historyTo address the challenges of global environmental change, policy-makers and managers need timely access to weather forecasts, climate predictions, satellite images of land-use change, water-cycle data, biodiversity indicators, seismographic information, topographical maps and many other Earth observation products and services. The GEO-IGOS Symposium will explore how the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) can help to meet these critical user needs.

Announcement – Call for Papers: Earth Information Systems and Capacity Building

EarthzineAnnouncements, Earth Observation, Original, Sections

Image of the GEOSS logoEarthzine is soliciting original articles for an upcoming theme on “Earth Information Systems and Capacity Building.” Topics of interest include the design, development and operation of specific information systems and issues/challenges related to infrastructure development and capacity building. See the Call for Papers for more details.

Cash prizes for the 2009 Student Essay Competition Sustainability through Earth Observation and Engineering

EarthzineEducation, Original, Sections, Sustainability, Technology

Image of the Earthzine Student Essay Contest logoEarthzine invites undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to submit an essay for the 2009 Student Essay Competition: Sustainability through Earth Observation and Engineering. Students should submit essays that follow one of the two dominant themes in sustainability: social equity and environmental protection. Essays should also be related to one or more of Earthzine’s focal topics: Agriculture, Biodiversity, Climate, Disasters, Ecosystems, Energy, Health, Water, or Weather.

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC®) issues a Request for Information (RFI)

EarthzineArticles, Earth Observation, Original, Technology, Uncategorized

Satellite image of planet EarthSeeking to establish alliances and share information amongst various Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) with technology relevant to fusion, the Open Geospatial Consortium has issued a Request for Information (RFI). Responses are requested by August 12, 2009 and the RFI includes instructions for how organizations can respond. The information gathered is to be used in preparation of a Fusion Standards Study.

From Satellite to Solar Walls: A Look at GEO Energy

EarthzineArticles, Energy, Original, Sections, Sustainability, Technology

Cropped image of opening ceremony of the solar wall.Hundreds of kilometers above the earth’s surface, satellites orbit overhead, their cameras and sensors trained back on the Earth. Aside from a few scientists on the ground, not many people are aware of these satellites or the innovative ways they are helping provide energy to the world. Meanwhile, children in northern Canada exercise in a gym heated with the help of a solar wall, women in Africa fill containers with potable water from a solar-powered well, and a farmer in Minnesota looks up at the whirling blades of a new wind turbine in his corn field.