From: gpn0@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (GARY PHILIP NEWHART)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.biosph-l
Subject: Re: Shutdown of Env Satellites
Date: 8 Oct 92 12:12:25 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <BIOSPH-L%92100709565438@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>, TSOMMER@IRLEARN.UCD.IE
 (Terence Sommerville) writes:
>I wish to draw attention to the very valuable and critical work that the
>environmental satellites mentioned in an earlier posting, and concerning
>the shutting down of them from Oct 2.
>
>The satellites mentioned were : Nimbus -7
>                                Erbs
>                                Noaa - 9
>                                Noaa - 10
>
>It is pure madness that these satellites are being switched off. It inclines
>one to think that (probably worongly) there is a conspiracey in the top
>etchlons of power to have them turned off.
> It would appear to be the only valid reason as the data from these satellites
>have brought forward much news and importantly the 'hard' numbers on the levels
>of ozone destruction and global deforestation. Obviously the admin does not
>like all these gloomly facts and figures that if we can't see them then these
>problems will go away or at least, the real reaons maybe, then can be: 'So Ok'
>- , give us some real facts/numbers for destruction of ozone or whatever else
>it might be. But of course with the satellites turned off, there will be no
>data. Also valuable time series of data extending over a decade of more will
>be broken which is disasterous for long term studies and monitoring of trends.
>
>The Nimbus -7 satellites has the TOMS ozone mapper, which allowed the world
>to discover the true extent of the Anarctic Ozone Hole. Without it we would
>not have the Montreal Agreements as the patchy ground data is too sparse and
>the extent of the hole would never have been determined or belived from such
>small and limited ground data-sets. Also this satellite in its early days
>and still now has instruments for monitoring the Earth Radiation Balance
>and the Solar constant. The satellite also pointed out shortcomings in early
>ground reflectance models.
>
>Erbs: This satellite does valuable work gathering data for the long term
>  observations needed for the Earth Radiation Balance. It is vital for
>  validating current climate models in this area and already has had many
>  success. Again it would be mad to shut it off. Also it apparently costs
>  comparitvely very little to keep on. I should add that the satellite also
>  has yielded data on the reflectance values for clouds over the Earth,
>  which have provided data that was quite new in that values observed
>  were a bit different from that expected.
>
>
>Noaa 9+10 : These two polar orbiting satellites both take snapshots of the
>  whole globe  twice a day each, (at the same local time). That is they
>  give strips of overlapping observations that cover the Earth 2 a day.
>  They also store on board, for dumpping to the base ground station data
>  at 10km resolution for the whole Earth, while regional receiving centres
>  can get data at 1km resolution.
>
>  Besides the global coverage, and not just their use for day to day weather
>  observations they have provided much long term climatic data.
>
>  These satellites also have microwave sensors which are par of a long term
>study measuring ice thickness in the Arctic and Anarctic Seas. Without such
>baseline data, you know nothing.
>
>The Very High Resolution Radiometer has done marthon work for determining
>Sea Surface temperatures over much of the global and is part of a long term
>data set of a decade. The vegative index of the planet and orginally for
>Africa was derived from the Infra-red and visible channels on this sensor.
>It has allowed for the first time estimates of the actual global mass of
>the bio-mass on land, and thus it's role in the carbon cycle. There is so
>much that has been learnt from these satellites a giga-byte of text here
>would still not cover it all.
>(The VHRR has visible and infra-red detectors)
>
>So again I stress that it is crazy that these satellites are being turned
>off.
>
>Mention was also made of the UARS - upper atmospheric research satellite,
>that it might go after 18 months. This satellite is testing new types of
>instruments that are giving info never dreamed of, and it is imperative
>that the thing is kept going till the last sensor is worn out.
>
>-Terry.
>
Who can we write to stop the satellite shut down?
gpn0
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