Monitoring Earth Requires Help From Space
Today is Earth Day- a day dedicated to raising awareness of the health of our environment. Originally thought of by Gaylord Nelson following a massive oil spill in 1969, he wanted to unite people in a fight for saving the world they live in.
Over 50 years later, the original message is still very relevant today. With rising temperatures, more frequent natural disasters and extremes with the weather affecting all countries, animals and humans, it is more important than ever for people to unite to achieve a better future for all.
You may ask- How Can Satellites Help?
Thanks to their unique location above the earth, they provide key data and information to scientists to chart the key components of the climate, better understand Earth system processes, predict future change and drive international action.
Satellites monitor many elements of the changes within the earth’s atmosphere, physical attributes and ongoing effects. This includes the charting of glacier changes of areas, height and mass at local, regional and global scales that in turn helps estimate/ predict the knock on effect to sea levels and fresh water environments. This historic and recent data can aid in a greater understanding of the changes in global sea level, including important regional differences and can be utilised for the international community to develop an effective response. The long term decline in polar sea ice provides one of the clearest indications of change in the Earth’s environment. Many scientists believe that by 2050 the Arctic Sea Ice will not exist in summer months- just imagine what impact that could have on wildlife and humans!
Greenhouse Gases are the primary drivers of global warming and climate change from the human race – mainly as a result of industrial advances since the 1700s. Levels of Carbon Dioxide and Methane are at record levels and are continuing to increase. Satellites are being used to detect, record and report the smallest of changes within the atmosphere. Changes can be detected as accurately as within 1 part per 1 million for carbon dioxide – this level of data from satellite observations are enabling the scientific community to predict and analyse the long term impacts on our world to an astonishing level.
By collating the data from glacier changes alongside Greenhouse gases scientific researchers have been able to identify a direct link between the decreasing sea ice cover and increases in carbon dioxide emissions. This level of information could not be possible without the satellites providing such accurate data and would not allow future predictions and potential means of remedying this issue on a global scale.
It is here on earth though that the actions need to be taken. The data collected from above should be used to improve our understanding and result in positive changes by all. From the small actions like the reduction of plastic on an every day basis, to large factories finding new technologies to reduce pollution levels every can contribute and find ways of respecting and loving where we live. More and more people are taking action as a result and enacting the original message from Gaylord Nelson, that people should unite to save the world we live in.
