Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-82870-3 - Our Changing Planet: The View From Space Edited by Michael D. King, Claire L. Parkinson, Kim C. Partington and Robin G. Williams Frontmatter More information Our Changing Planet The View From Space For over forty years now, satellites have been orbiting above the Earth, quietly monitoring the state of our planet. Unseen by most of us, they are providing information on the many changes taking place on Earth, from natural processes such as land movements, volcanic eruptions, and the ebb and flow of the seasons, to human-caused changes such as the growth of cities, deforestation, the spread of pollutants in the atmos- phere and oceans, and the depletion of the ozone layer over the poles. Led by four editors with support from a production team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, many of the world’s top remote sensing sci- entists showcase spectacular and beautiful satellite imagery and provide informed essays on the science behind the images and the implica- tions of what is shown. The images and text highlight numerous examples, on local, regional, and global scales, of both natural changes and the many effects that human activity is having on the Earth. Our Changing Planet: The View from Space is a stunningly attractive and informative book for anyone interested in environmental issues and the beauty of our home planet. It portrays the astounding range and scientific utility of information that can be derived from satellites and demonstrates the great benefit that satellites provide for monitoring both natural and human-caused changes occurring throughout the world. It will provide inspiration for students, teachers, environmentalists, the general public, and scientists alike. Pre-publication praise for Our Changing Planet: The View from Space: ‘I’ve had the good fortune to visit some of the most beautiful parts of our home planet, and witness first hand the effect human activity is hav- ing on our world. This book allows you to explore some of these effects through an awe-inspiring collection of images of the Earth from space. This wonderful volume provides a masterful association of imagery and explanation. You will have difficulty closing it once opened. I give it my highest recommendation.’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes, internationally renowned explorer and adventurer ‘Our understanding of the world radically changed when we first saw it from space. It became at once precious yet vulnerable, romantic yet realistic, and above all unified as the physical and living environments came indissolubly together. The pictures in this remarkable book could almost tell the story by themselves; but they are supported by a well written collection of essays which together explain the underlying science and how the system actually works. As tiny ephemeral creatures on the surface, we can also see the alarming effects our activities are having, whether on the land, in the seas or in the atmosphere, so that this epoch in the Earth's long history can be appropriately named the Anthropocene. We still have to reckon with the consequences. This is an excellent guide to greater understanding of the fundamental issues of our time.’ Sir Crispin Tickell, Director of the Policy Foresight Programme at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilization at Oxford University, former British Ambassador to the United Nations, former President of the Royal Geographical Society ‘Great, readable book with spectacular space views of how our home planet is changing – the land, atmosphere, oceans and ice.’ James Hansen, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies ‘We have been advised for years to act locally and think globally and nothing helps us think more about the globe than the wonder of view- ing the whole and all its changeable parts from space. This book tells us what is happening to our world in graphic detail and it is truly an eye opener.’ ‘William Ruckelshaus, First Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’ ‘This collection of stunning images of our planet from space serves as a focus for a discussion of geologic, atmospheric and oceanic processes. The emphasis is on change, and here the images of shrinking glaciers are particularly impressive. Much of scientific progress has been associ- ated with increased magnification of ever smaller subjects, down to the molecular and atomic dimensions. This volume illustrates rather the opposite: of how much can be learned from integrated views of large areas, up to the planetary dimension.’ Walter Munk, Professor Emeritus Scripps Institution of Oceanography © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-82870-3 - Our Changing Planet: The View From Space Edited by Michael D. King, Claire L. Parkinson, Kim C. Partington and Robin G. Williams Frontmatter More information Our Changing Planet The View From Space EDITED BY MICHAEL D. KING NASA Goddard Space Flight Center CLAIRE L. PARKINSON NASA Goddard Space Flight Center KIM C. PARTINGTON Polar Imaging Ltd ROBIN G. WILLIAMS La Jolla, California © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-82870-3 - Our Changing Planet: The View From Space Edited by Michael D. King, Claire L. Parkinson, Kim C. Partington and Robin G. Williams Frontmatter More information CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sa˜o Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521828703 © Cambridge University Press 2007 The contributions of Robert F. Adler, Robert A. Bindschadler, Lahouari Bounoua, Josefino C. Comiso, Gene C. Feldman, James L. Foster, James F. Gleason, Steven J. Goodman, Dorothy K. Hall, N. Christina Hsu, Marc L. Imhoff, Daniel E. Irwin, Thomas J. Jackson, Michael F. Jasinski, Michael D. King, Gang Liu, Norman G. Loeb, Jeffrey C. Luvall, Charles R. McClain, Richard D. McPeters, Patrick Minnis, Manfred Owe, Claire L. Parkinson, Steven Platnick, Dale A. Quattrochi, Richard D. Ray, Douglas L. Rickman, Thomas L. Sever, Alan E. Strong, Si-Chee Tsay, Compton J. Tucker, Richard S. Williams, Jr., and Takmeng Wong, are a work of the United States Government and are not protected by copyright. This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2007 Printed in Singapore A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library ISBN 978-0-521-82870-3 hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Cover image: View of Earth’s horizon as the Sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. This image was taken by a crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS), July 21, 2003. Anvil tops of thunderclouds are visible. Image courtesy of the Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, photograph number ISS007-10808 © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-82870-3 - Our Changing Planet: The View From Space Edited by Michael D. King, Claire L. Parkinson, Kim C. Partington and Robin G. Williams Frontmatter More information Contents Foreword .................................................. .............................................. ix P. J. Sellers Preface. xv M. D. King, C. L. Parkinson, K. C. Partington, R. G. Williams Acknowledgments . xviii The Dynamic Atmosphere . 1 Introduction . 5 M. D. King Clouds: Are the Shutters of the Earth Changing? . 10 D. P. Wylie, W. P. Menzel Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties . 15 M. D. King Clouds and the Earth’s Radiation Budget . 21 N. G. Loeb, T. Wong Water Vapor . 26 B. J. Soden A World of Rain . 30 R. F. Adler, G. J. Huffman, S. Curtis Hurricanes: Connections with Climate Change . 36 J. B. Halverson Lightning . 44 S. J. Goodman, D. E. Buechler, E.W. McCaul, Jr. Warming and Cooling of the Atmosphere . 53 Q. Fu, C. M. Johanson Dust in the Wind . 56 N. C. Hsu, S.-C. Tsay, M. D. King, D. J. Diner Atmospheric Pollution: A Global Problem . 61 D. P. Edwards Ship Tracks. 66 S. Platnick Airplane Contrails . 71 P. Minnis Weekly Cycle of Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution from Space . 74 S. Beirle, U. Platt, T. Wagner, M. O. Wenig, J. F. Gleason The Ozone Hole . 78 R. D. McPeters © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-82870-3 - Our Changing Planet: The View From Space Edited by Michael D. King, Claire L. Parkinson, Kim C. Partington and Robin G. Williams Frontmatter More information vi The Chlorine Threat to Earth’s Ozone Shield . 82 M. L. Santee The Vital Land . 88 Introduction . 91 K. C. Partington The San Andreas Fault: Adjustments in the Earth’s Crust . 94 D. T. Sandwell, B. R. Smith Mt. Pinatubo: An Enduring Volcanic Hazard . 97 P. J. Mouginis-Mark Extreme Floods . 100 S. Caquard, G. R. Brakenridge Satellite Monitoring of Ebola Virus Hemorrhagic Fever Epidemics . 104 J. E. Pinzon, C. J. Tucker Snow Cover: The Most Dynamic Feature on the Earth’s Surface . 110 D. K. Hall, J. L. Foster Glaciers: Scribes of Climate; Harbingers of Change . 116 D. K. Hall, R. S. Williams, Jr. Boreal Forests: A Lengthening Growing Season . 120 K. C. McDonald, J. S. Kimball Soil Moisture: A Critical Underlying Role . 124 M. F. Jasinski, T. J. Jackson, M. Owe, B. A. Cosgrove The Sunlit Earth . 129 C. B. Schaaf Temperature of the Land Surface . 136.