|
The NASA Landsat Pathfinder Project is an endeavor to quantify and study global deforestation, especially deforestation of tropical rainforests. This project is part of both NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Program and the Earth Observing System Data and Information System, a joint global monitoring system and data interpreting system which collects data and forecasts trends in global physical characteristics such as climate, greenhouse gases, land use, and the hydrologic cycle.
The Earth Observing System has been monitoring the earth by satellite for over twenty years. The data found is compared to estimate the change in environmental conditions. Scientists can use this information to determine where critical sources of degradation occur. Using results of the scientist's findings, governments and NGO's can prioritize their policies and objectives to focus both on areas of crisis and areas in which their energy will be most effective.
*Most of my information was derived from the extensive information available in the NASA Landsat Pathfinder Project page and the related Earth Observing System page.
Copyright © 1996, Kristina J. Parker
|