|
|
The view of the first 'Earthrise' from Apollo 8 on Dec. 22, 1968 sparked
a worldwide effort to better understand and protect the Earth. NASA
is and will continue to be in the forefront of this effort. NASA
is focused on developing a scientific understanding of the Earth
as a whole system and its response to natural or human-induced changes.
NASA's research on the Earth focuses on the following five questions:
- How is the global system changing?
- What are the primary forces of the Earth system?
- How does the Earth system respond to natural and human-induced
changes?
- What are the consequences of change in the Earth system for
human civilization?
- How well can we predict future changes in the Earth system?
Answering these questions is vital to understanding the Earth and
protecting it for future generations. Focusing on the science issues
associated with global change, NASA Ames' research is particularly
concerned with atmospheric and ecosystem science and biosphere/atmosphere
interaction. Ames also develops sensors and other technologies to
monitor crops, natural resources and disease outbreaks as part of
NASA's studies of planet Earth.
|
|