1999 Fact Book
EOS Project Science Office

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NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

World Wide Web URL:

http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Earth Science Enterprise

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NASA Headquarters

Washington, DC 20546

World Wide Web URL:

http://www.earth.nasa.gov/

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For more information about NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise:

Public Inquiries

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NASA Headquarters

Washington, DC 20546-0001
Table of Contents aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa

The Earth Science Enterprise

An overview of the program ......................................... 2

Questions and Answers

Why do we need to study the Earth from space? ................ 3

NASA Facts

Helpful information on related science issues ................... 9

Earth Science Enterprise Accomplishments

From the past to the future ......................................... 14

Earth Science Enterprise Researchers

Learn about the people who are part of the program ......... 16

Earth Science Enterprise Facts

Specific information about missions and recent changes ......17

Where Do I Get More Information?

A listing of Earth Science Enterprise education contacts .... 20
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

Overview: Earth Science Enterprise aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Since its creation in 1958, NASA has been studying

the Earth and its changing environment by observing the atmosphere, oceans, land, ice, and snow,

and their influence on climate and weather. We now

realize that the key to gaining a better understanding of the global environment is exploring how the

Earth’s systems of air, land, water, and life interact

with each other. This approach—called Earth

System Science—blends together fields like

meteorology, oceanography, biology, and atmospheric science.

In 1991, NASA launched a more comprehensive

program to study the Earth as an environmental

system, now called the Earth Science Enterprise.

By using satellites and other tools to intensively

study the Earth, we hope to expand our understanding of how natural processes affect us, and how we

might be affecting them. Such studies will yield

improved weather forecasts, tools for managing

agriculture and forests, information for fishermen

and local planners, and, eventually, the ability to

predict how the climate will change in the future.

The Earth Science Enterprise has three main

components: a series of Earth-observing satellites,

an advanced data system, and teams of scientists

who will study the data. Key areas of study include

2

clouds; water and energy cycles; oceans; chemistry

of the atmosphere; land surface; water and ecosystem processes; glaciers and polar ice sheets; and the

solid Earth.

Phase I of the Earth Science Enterprise has been

comprised of focused, free-flying satellites, Space

Shuttle missions, and various airborne and groundbased studies. Phase II begins this year with the

launch of the first Earth Observing System (EOS)

satellite. EOS is the first observing system to offer

integrated measurements of the Earth’s processes

and will generate a long-term environmental

database focusing on climate change. We have

initiated an era of unprecedented observational

capability for understanding the planet.

Just as the first weather and communications

satellites fundamentally changed our way of

thinking about those fields, so the elements of the

Earth Science Enterprise will expand our perspective of the global environment and climate. Working together with our partners around the world, we

are well on our way to improving our knowledge of

the Earth and using that knowledge to the benefit of

all humanity.

♦ SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF EARTH YIELDS NEW KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL BENEFITS

♦ A SOLID RESEARCH PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY TO ANSWER THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

♦ NASA’S UNIQUE RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION IS THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE FROM SPACE

♦ AN EVOLUTIONARY IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH YIELDS “BEST-VALUE” SCIENCE

♦ INTERNATIONAL, INTERAGENCY, AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS

♦ NASA SCIENCE IS PRODUCING VALUABLE RESULTS—BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

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SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE EARTH YIELDS NEW

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL BENEFITS

3

Earth’s environment is constantly changing and

those changes affect us all. Some of these changes,

like tornadoes and hurricanes, are rapid and violent.

Other events, like earthquakes and volcanic

eruptions, occur suddenly but are the result of

pressures in the Earth’s crust which have been

building for many years. Our climate can change

over decades, centuries, and even millennia (the last

ice age was one such change). More immediate

effects of a changing climate can be seen in altered

weather patterns. African nations are concerned

about severe droughts, while those in Southeast

Asia desire to know with more precision about the

arrival of the monsoon. The U.S. is concerned with

the likelihood of floods along the Mississippi River,

rainfall patterns over agricultural areas, and

damaging storms along our heavily populated

coastlines. Our current lack of understanding of

these changes and their causes impairs our ability to

respond.

Environmental changes can be costly to society.

Concerns about the Earth reach beyond the scientific community to the business world. Natural

disasters cost the U.S. tens of billions of dollars

each year. The trillion dollar banking and insurance

industries are beginning to see the value of Earth

observation in such areas as forecasting severe

storms and predicting long-term climate. Such

businesses are built on a stable world climate and

their well being depends on good information about

the future of the Earth’s environment. Economic

consequences to farmers and others from changing

weather patterns and land-use practices are already

occurring. Instead of being held captive to whatever

climate changes may occur over time, NASA and

its partners are striving to discover climate patterns

that will allow us to predict and perhaps respond to

environmental changes well in advance of their

occurrence.

Environmental understanding helps us use

resources wisely. In order to detect healthy

vegetation, farmers, commodity traders, and

insurers will soon be able to use indices of crop

conditions derived from satellite measurements

of plant “greenness.”

NASA data is being used to demonstrate the

beneficial effects of urban forests which lessen

the impact of “urban heat islands,” bubble-like

accumulations of hot air that have developed as

cities have grown during the past 20 years.

Sport and commercial fishing fleets are using

NASA data to more efficiently locate areas with

the best fishing potential, such as locations with

certain temperatures and water clarity characteristics.

With help from NASA science data, solar power

is being provided cheaply and efficiently for

people of the world without electricity, who often

spend the entire day searching for fuel.

In 1996, 88,000 wildfires burned over 6 million

acres at a cost of over $1 billion in fire control

activities. NASA data has been used to develop a

series of fire potential maps in the western U.S.

to assist firefighters in fire planning and assessment.

Municipalities across the country will soon be

able to manage their tax mapping and building

permit process by comparing current digital

aerial photography and high-resolution satellite

imagery with that from prior years, using

sophisticated computer “change detection”

software.

NASA data is being used to create “Nowcast”

weather forecasts to assist drilling in the Gulf of

Mexico. Drilling activities cannot proceed in

currents stronger than 2 knots, because of the

difficulty in dynamic position-keeping as well as

the stresses imposed on the drill itself as it

extends through the water column. Accurate,

localized weather forecasting reduces the cost of

drilling operations.

How will studying the Earth benefit humanity?

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Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

A:

The Earth is an incredibly complex planet. Many

interactions between the Earth’s systems of air,

water, land, and life remain clouded in uncertainty,

and data on some of Earth’s processes are sparse.

Lacking this knowledge, we are unable to explain

why major climate events occur, how often, or

where they will strike. Understanding these

environmental changes may help us predict when

they will occur and how they will affect us, and

perhaps enable us to adapt.

Humanity is capable of affecting the planet. As

Earth’s population grows and economic activity

expands, our ability to cause global-scale changes

in the environment increases. While we do not

know precisely how this expansion will affect the

global environment, it could lead to environmental

changes of a global or regional nature as we have

already seen with the upper atmospheric ozone

depletion. NASA and its partners will observe and

analyze the cumulative consequences of global

climate changes.

We must figure out how everything is linked

together. The key to gaining a better understanding

of the global environment is exploring how the

Earth’s systems of air, land, water, and life interact

with each other. This approach—called Earth

System Science—blends together fields such as

meteorology, oceanography, atmospheric science,

and biology. It is in interactions among the Earth’s

systems that our base of knowledge is most limited.

Laying the groundwork for further study. Scientists studying the Earth’s environment began

working together more than a dozen years ago—

before the Earth Science Enterprise program

started—to better understand and predict climate

change and its consequences. We have collected

data, made surprising discoveries, and begun to

unravel mysteries of the global environment. But

this is just the beginning. We need to collect

sufficiently accurate data about the climate system

as a whole, so that we can develop reliable projections to tell us how particular regions might be

affected.

The Government has a coordinated research

program. Recognizing the need for timely, accurate

information, the U.S. is carrying out a comprehensive initiative to better understand Earth. This

program—called the U.S. Global Change Research

Program—is a closely coordinated effort among a

dozen Federal agencies that have a unique expertise

in studying the Earth. NASA is a leader in these

research efforts, with a coordinated program

emphasizing land-cover and land-use change,

seasonal-to-interannual climate, natural hazards,

long-term climate variability, and atmospheric

ozone.

This long-term research has many practical, nearterm benefits. Studying the climate yields more

than just good science. Farmers, foresters, fishermen, business people, and educators will be able to

use the information from this initiative to improve

their productivity and competitiveness.

We will learn as we go. It is likely that there are

factors involved in climate change, or its effects on

the environment and human choices, that we will

only discover as our understanding evolves. Having

this information will enable informed and objective

discussion about the future of the planet, potential

global changes, and options for public and private

sector actions.

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What do we need to understand?

4

A SOLID RESEARCH PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY TO ANSWER

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

We are addressing the most important science

priorities. NASA worked with university, government, and industry scientists, in such forums as the

National Academy of Sciences, to identify the

following as areas of maturing science with

substantial societal benefits:

Land-Cover Change and Land-Use Change:

Observing how land and coastal regions are

changing over time due to both natural and

human activities.

Seasonal-to-Interannual Climate Variability and

Prediction: Learning how to forecast precipitation and other variables a season or a year in

advance, with enormous potential payoff for

agricultural planning.

Natural Hazards Research and Applications:

Using these same capabilities to project probabilities of floods and droughts in key regions of

the nation and the world.

Long-Term Climate Variability: Building models

of climate change that extend annual prediction

capabilities to decadal and centennial time

frames, and to sort out the natural from the

human-induced drivers of climate change.

Atmospheric Ozone: Extending our base of

knowledge on upper atmosphere ozone depletion

and recovery to help identify substitutes for

harmful chemicals, and beginning to monitor

lower atmosphere ozone, which is toxic to most

life.

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Why is NASA involved in studying the Earth?

5

The best way to study the Earth as a whole is from

space. From space we can observe global ocean

circulation. We can track the transport of dust from

Africa’s Sahara desert to South America’s Amazon

rainforests. The global view from space enables

scientists to study Earth system processes over

large uninhabited areas—the oceans, great deserts,

and the polar regions. Events in these regions affect

the populated areas of the Earth, and we use

observations of the whole planet to build computer

models to describe what’s happening. Satellites

provide the required continuous, global, long-term

observations.

NASA is focusing its science and technology

expertise toward our home planet. NASA has the

experience to do the job. Going back to NASA’s

inception in 1958, we have developed the expertise

in space research and development needed to make

the precise measurements that enable scientists to

generate reliable discoveries about the environment.

While pre-Earth Observing System (EOS) missions

have produced exceptional results, EOS will be the

first satellite system capable of making comprehensive measurements required for the study of global

climate change, perhaps enabling such predictions

as regional rainfall a season or a year in advance.

NASA is uniquely suited to lead this international

scientific effort. NASA brings to bear an integrated

program of space, air, and ground-based observing

capabilities, data management systems, and science,

offering the potential for a well-coordinated

research and observation capability. The nations of

the world look to the United States for leadership in

the development of precise measurements and highquality research that will lead to greater knowledge

of the Earth system, practical benefits, and sound

policy decisions for the next century.

NASA’S UNIQUE RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION IS THE

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE FROM SPACE

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♦

♦
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

How will NASA get this important information?

A:

AN EVOLUTIONARY IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

YIELDS “BEST-VALUE” SCIENCE

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6

Ongoing and future missions enable understanding of key Earth system processes. Current satellite

and aircraft research efforts are advancing our

knowledge of specific environmental processes. In

1997, we launched the Tropical Rainfall Measuring

Mission (TRMM), a joint U.S./Japanese mission

producing precise measurements of rainfall in the

tropics, which is a critical indicator in climate

patterns throughout the world. In addition, a private

company launched Orbcomm-2 (formerly SeaStar),

a spacecraft that is providing NASA with scientific

data on life in the oceans—data which is likely to

be marketable to the fishing, oil, and shipping

industries. Scheduled for launch this year is

QuikSCAT, a mission designed to collect wind

speed and wind direction across 90 percent of the

Earth’s ice-free oceans every day,

This year the Earth Observing System (EOS)

begins the first integrated measurements of

changes in global climate and also provides

practical information for business, farming,

forestry, and fishing. EOS is the first comprehensive system designed specifically to study the Earth

as a complex series of interactions between life, air,

water, and land. Over the next few years, EOS

satellites and complementary international missions

will fly over most of the Earth’s surface gathering

data such as global changes in the atmosphere, land

surface, pollution, and water resources. What were

once studied as isolated events will be examined as

interconnected and interactive forces which form a

comprehensive snapshot of the Earth as a whole.

NASA has developed a comprehensive data system

to make information readily available. The Earth

Observing System Data and Information System

(EOSDIS) is designed to relay large amounts of

information to scientists, educators, governments,

businesses, and the general public. Through

EOSDIS, any data set can be accessed via the

Internet and other means by thousands of users at

the same time throughout the world. EOSDIS data

are directly contributing to the establishment of a

national spatial data infrastructure.

NASA has always been at the forefront of developing new technology and new approaches, and the

Earth Science Enterprise is no exception. The

New Millennium Program (NMP), a coordinated

NASA/private industry activity designed to

demonstrate next-generation technologies such as

lightweight, low-cost instruments, will help us

reduce future mission costs. NASA selected an

advanced land imager as the first NMP mission,

scheduled for flight in 1999. Our Earth System

Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program will capitalize

on existing technologies using a series of small,

rapid-development missions to address unfolding

areas of science not covered by EOS. Two ESSP

missions have been selected, and the first one,

scheduled for launch in 2000, will study the

distribution of forests. In another innovative

program, we are partnering with industry to obtain

scientific data more quickly and less expensively—

from commercial sources.

NASA has embraced a philosophy of continual,

orderly evolution, incorporating new technologies

and creating new partnerships to drive down the

costs of continuous, long-term measurements.

Near-term EOS costs (through 2000) have already

been reduced from $17 billion to $6.5 billion since

1990. We are vigorously pursuing technology

innovations to decrease future costs 30% (after

2000)—saving the U.S. taxpayer billions of dollars.

We initiated a Biennial Review of the program. It

has proven to be our most significant vehicle for

evolution of the Earth Science Enterprise through

careful consideration of scientific, technological,

and mission changes recommended by our scientific, international, and business partners.
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

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Why is a broad-based research effort critical to success?

INTERNATIONAL, INTERAGENCY, AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS

MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS

7

Improving our understanding of the Earth system

is a global challenge, and the United States cannot

accomplish this type of comprehensive research

task alone. In addition to extensive cooperation

with other federal agencies through the USGCRP,

NASA is working with partner organizations

around the world to address this global challenge.

International cooperation, usually documented by

international agreements, allows NASA to more

than double its investment in Earth Science.

Through the Earth Science Enterprise’s Phase I and

the first EOS series, other nations are investing over

$4 billion in NASA’s Earth Science program. At the

same time, our international partners have also

invested nearly $4.7 billion in additional, complementary international Earth observation missions

from which the U.S. will receive important data.

Leveraging resources through partnerships promotes efficiency and avoids duplication of effort as

organizations and countries around the world take

on different parts of the global puzzle that is our

Earth system. Even countries without space

programs can contribute to the international effort

through access to data and first-rate scientific

analysis of research results. NASA is a leader in

promoting greater cooperation and involvement. In

addition to existing cooperative arrangements,

NASA is at the forefront in the development of an

integrated global observing strategy to coordinate

data collection worldwide and to commit nations to

the collection and sharing of environmental

information. A broad-based research effort is indeed

critical to the success of the NASA Earth Science

program.

Cooperative efforts with other federal agencies

combine science needs and operational requirements. NASA is expanding its long partnership

with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) to enhance operational

weather capabilities, and NASA is also broadening

cooperation with NOAA and the U.S. Geological

Survey (USGS) on critical land observations.

NASA and NOAA are moving to more closely

coordinate their activities in the area of Earth

observations, with a focus on providing mutually

beneficial services for a lower overall cost. The

converged national weather satellite program

among NASA, NOAA, and the Department of

Defense (DoD) is an excellent example of this

enhanced cooperation. NASA’s technology has

contributed directly to improvements in weather

forecasting that have occurred since the 1960’s, and

NASA’s critical role in this effort is to demonstrate

advanced technology.

Commercial partnerships will yield more costeffective solutions to science requirements while

enhancing the relevance of scientific discovery.

NASA has developed and released the Earth

Science Enterprise’s Commercial Strategy. It is

designed to drive down the cost of science data

acquisition, exploit cutting-edge industry technologies and information systems, and to work with the

commercial sector to develop new technologies

which are mutually beneficial to government and

business. To ensure that we are constantly pursuing

the most cost-effective approach to acquiring

needed observations, we have conducted our first

Biennial Review of program implementation.

NASA will also continue to pursue partnerships

with the private sector to encourage a thriving new

industry which transforms data into practical

applications that can be useful in the daily lives of

everyday Americans and their businesses in areas

such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mineral

extraction.
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

Predicting

Learning to predict regional seasonal and

annual precipitation for agriculture. What farmer

or rancher has not wished he could predict the

amount and pattern of rainfall in the next growing

season? Researchers have discovered that precipitation in the mid-latitudes is strongly influenced by a

warming of Pacific Ocean waters called El Niño.

By studying such phenomena, researchers hope to

be able to provide regionally useful seasonal and

annual forecasts in North America and elsewhere.

We are now entering an unprecedented period of

spacecraft launch and research activities:

This year, EOS will begin providing the first

integrated measurements of changes in the global

climate. An ocean winds mission designed to

collect wind speed and wind direction is scheduled

for launch, and the Earth Science Enterprise will

demonstrate land-imaging technology as part of

NASA’s New Millenium Program. Also in 1999, a

joint U.S./German Shuttle radar mission with the

Department of Defense and the U.S. Geological

Survey is scheduled to generate the most precise

map ever of most of the Earth’s surface topography.

In 2000, a successor to a highly accomplished U.S./

French oceanography mission will be launched as

well as a mission to study the distribution of forests

and a follow-on U.S./Russian ozone monitoring

mission.

A:

What have we learned? What else will we learn?

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8

The Earth Science Enterprise, in conjunction

with the U.S. Global Change Research Program

(USGCRP), follows an approach of characterizing, understanding, and predicting:

Characterizing

Providing satellite data to state and local

planning authorities. Satellite images of the

Earth’s surface can be combined with aircraft

photos and street utility maps in geographic

information systems to provide planning authorities

with the data they need to make multi-million

dollar decisions on civil works.

Documenting success of international ozone

treaties for protection of Earth’s natural radiation shield. Researchers have been monitoring the

concentration of ozone-depleting chemicals to

determine the effectiveness of international treaties

to protect the ozone layer. NASA and NOAA

measurements indicate that the treaty is proving

effective.

Understanding

Understanding the world’s oceans and their

effects on us. Satellite data challenged a fundamental theory about large-scale waves in the oceans, a

finding expected to revise textbooks and improve

weather forecasting. We also continue to precisely

measure changes in sea level, and its environmental

and economic effects on our shorelines.

Measuring harmful Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

New analysis techniques for ozone data make it

possible to provide the first global data set on

surface ultraviolet radiation.

NASA SCIENCE IS PRODUCING VALUABLE RESULTS —

BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

How is the Earth’s Surface Changing?

NASA Facts

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Earth Science Enterprise

Washington, DC 20546

AC 202 358-1547

January 1999

In many ways. Wind, rain, volcanoes, and

continental shifts have always acted to change the

Earth’s surface. The 1980 eruption of Mt. St.

Helens left 250 square miles of surrounding land

damaged by the lateral blast. Human activity is a

powerful force in its own right. About 35 percent

of the world’s land surface is used for farms and

pastures. The Earth’s population has nearly tripled

since 1930, and is expected to double again over

the next century. Currently, 45% of people live in

urban areas; by 2025, 60% will be urban dwellers.

Viewed from above, it is clear that the Earth’s

surface changes dynamically.

Satellite images are helping regional and city

planners guide development in ways that minimize environmental impact. Forestry companies

use remote sensing data to shape harvesting and

replanting strategies to ensure the viability of their

business and the health of forests for the next

hundred years. Agribusiness is learning “precision

agriculture” methods which conserve scarce soil

and water resources. The challenge of achieving

sustainable development is enormous, and the

view from space is proving essential to the task.

NASA’s role: The first civilian land-imaging satellite

experiment was launched by NASA in 1972 (before the Earth

Science Enterprise era), beginning the widely used Landsat data

set which continues with the launch of Landsat 7 this year. A new

generation of land-imaging sensors will also be launched this

year as part of the Earth Observing System. The growing utility

of land imagery has led to an emerging commercial market for

these data, and NASA is pursuing innovative partnerships with

commercial firms, both to acquire data and to create new

information products. The view from space is complemented by

scientific field campaigns in key regions of the world such as the

Amazon rainforest.

These Landsat

images of the

state of Rondonia

Brazil were taken

in 1975 (top) and

1986 (bottom).

Areas where forest

lands were

converted to

agricultural uses

are identifiable as

a fishbone pattern

in the 1986 image.

The contrast

between the two

images indicates

the magnitude of

the change that

occurred in only

11 years.

9
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

NASA Facts

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Earth Science Enterprise

Washington, DC 20546

AC 202 358-1547

How Does El Niño Affect Our Weather?

In many ways. El Niño is a climate disturbance that

occurs every two to five years in the Pacific Ocean. A

region of warm water forms in the western Pacific and

moves toward South America. In doing so, it alters

weather and rainfall patterns, wind directions and even

the jet stream, in both the tropics and the northern

latitudes of our hemisphere.

Though scientists still do not fully understand how it

forms, they do believe that El Niño conditions may

have contributed to the 1993 Mississippi and 1995

California floods, as well as to drought conditions in

South America, Africa, and Australia. The 1993 El

Niño event was responsible for $8 billion in damages

in 33 countries, and the 1997-98 El Niño may prove

equally damaging.

10

January 1999

NASA’s role: A joint U.S./French satellite is providing the most precise measurements ever of El Niño’s effect on the

ocean surface and its progress as a “wave” across the Pacific. Based on these and other measurements, NASA and

NOAA predicted the 1997-98 El Niño 6 months in advance. Additional study by NASA scientists and other researchers

will enable us to understand the interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere during an El Niño, to more accurately predict how it will affect the weather, and perhaps to prepare for its occurrences. (Left image is derived from

TOPEX/Poseidon data and right image represents a visualization of El Niño using the same data.)

10 Dec 97 Dec 97
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

NASA Facts

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Earth Science Enterprise

Washington, DC 20546

AC 202 358-1547

Is the Earth Experiencing a Warming Trend?

Computer models predict that it is. Burning coal, oil, and natural

gas to heat our homes, power our cars, and illuminate our cities

produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as

by-products. Deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture

also release significant quantities of such gases. Over the last

century, we have been emitting greenhouse gases to the atmosphere faster than natural processes can remove them. During

this time, atmospheric levels of these gases have climbed steadily

and are projected to continue their steep ascent as global

economies grow.

Records of past climate going as far back as 160,000 years

indicate a close correlation between the concentration of

greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global temperatures.

Computer simulations of the climate indicate that global

temperatures will rise as atmospheric concentrations of CO2

increase. An international panel of 2,000 of the world’s leading

climate scientists concluded that Earth has already warmed about

1 ̊F over the last century, and that “the balance of evidence

suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.”

This international panel estimates that global surface air temperature will increase another 2-6 ̊F in the next 100 years. The

difference in temperature from the last ice age to now is about 9 ̊F.

Their best guess is that we will experience warming of about 3.5 ̊F

by 2100, which would be a faster rate of climate change than any

experienced during the last 10,000 years, the period in which

modern civilization developed.

Warming of this magnitude will affect many aspects of our lives as

it changes temperature and precipitation patterns, induces sea level

rise, and alters the distribution of fresh water supplies. The impacts

on our health, the vitality of forests and other natural areas, and the

productivity of agriculture are all likely to be significant but not yet

well understood. Only through a sustained effort of sound Earth

Science research can these impacts be understood at the regional

and global levels.

NASA’s role: We are working with other agencies and nations to

gather the scientific evidence to improve long-term climate models.

Beginning this year, NASA is launching a series of satellites and

airborne platforms—the Earth Observing System—designed to

study how the different parts of the Earth’s environment (air, water,

land, and life) all interact, and resolving discrepancies between

satellite and ground temperature records (see temperature charts on

this page). This data will help us to better understand and predict

how Earth’s climate may be changing and what the effects could be.

11

January 1999

Satellite Temperature Record

Global Lower Tropospheric Temperatures 1979–97

Ground Temperature Record

Global-mean combined land-air and sea-surface temperatures, 1861-1989, relative to the average for 1951–80.

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990

YEAR

Temp Change (°C)

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration

and Temperature Change

Year

Degrees C
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

NASA Facts

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Earth Science Enterprise

Washington, DC 20546

AC 202 358-1547

Will Sea Levels Rise?

12

January 1999

Hurricane Fran

Many scientists believe it will, but to what degree is unknown.

Scientists believe that as we add carbon dioxide and other

emissions to the atmosphere, the Earth will get warmer. If this

happens, ocean levels will rise, because of melting ice and the

expansion of ocean water as it warms. There is clear evidence

of slowly rising sea levels over the last century.

Rising sea level erodes beaches and coastal wetlands,

inundates low-lying areas, and increases the vulnerability of

coastal areas to flooding from storm surges and intense

rainfall. By 2100, sea level is expected to rise by 6 to 37

inches. A 20-inch sea level rise will result in substantial loss of

coastal land in the United States, especially along the southern

Atlantic and Gulf coasts, which are subsiding and are

particularly vulnerable. The oceans will continue to expand for

several centuries after temperatures stabilize. Because of this,

the sea level rise associated with CO2

 levels of 550 parts per

million (ppm) (double pre-industrial levels) could eventually

exceed 40 inches. A CO2 level of 1100 ppm could produce a

sea level rise of 80 inches or even more, depending on the

extent to which the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melt.

A 20-inch sea level rise would double the global population at

risk from storm surges, from roughly 45 million at present to

over 90 million, and this figure does not account for any

increases in coastal populations—more than half the U.S.

population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. A 40-inch rise

would triple the number. South Florida is highly vulnerable to

sea level rise. A third of the Everglades has an elevation of less

than 12 inches. Salt water intrusion would adversely affect

delicate ecological communities and degrade the habitat for

many species.

NASA’s role: Using a radar altimeter, a U.S./French satellite is

currently making very precise measurements of global sea

height. Data show a small rise in sea level since 1992, though

more information is needed to establish a trend. NASA is

supporting a research program consisting of satellite, aircraft

and surface measurements for documenting changes in the

Greenland ice sheet. Also NASA, in collaboration with the

Canadian Space Agency completed data collection for

producing the first high-resolution radar maps of Antarctica.

Over the next decade, all these data will help us tell whether

ocean levels are rising and, perhaps, offer clues to the cause(s).
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

NASA Facts

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Earth Science Enterprise

Washington, DC 20546

AC 202 358-1547

Is the Ozone Layer Still in Trouble?

Ozone in Earth’s Atmosphere

Troposphere:

In this region,

ozone is a pollutant.

It damages lung

tissue and plants.

Stratosphere:

In this region,

ozone is a shield.

It protects us from

the Sun’s harmful

ultraviolet radiation.

Mesosphere

1980 1985 1990 1995

YEAR (Source: Prinn, Weiss, Fraser, Simmonds, Cunnold, Alyea)

CFC-12

CFC-11

METHYL CHLOROFORM

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Atmospheric Concentrations

Global Average Concentrations for Ozone-Depleting Gases

Yes, but help is on the way. The ozone layer is a thin band

in the upper atmosphere that blocks out most of the Sun’s

harmful ultraviolet rays. Without this protective shield, life

on Earth would be impossible. The ozone layer has been

damaged by chemicals (such as chlorofluorocarbons or

CFCs) which are used in refrigerators, air conditioners,

and industry.

13

January 1999

NASA satellites, aircraft, balloon, and ground

measurements helped detect the effects of

CFCs on the ozone layer and enabled us to

understand why they were occurring. One of

these effects is the “ozone hole,” an area of

extreme ozone depletion that forms over

Antarctica each spring (fall in the U.S.). As a

result of this research—led by U.S. scientists,

government, and industry—the nations of the

world agreed to ban the production of CFCs by

1996.

NASA’s role: Though ozone levels over Antarctica

and the rest of the globe will continue to decline for

several years, NASA and NOAA measurements have

now detected evidence that the treaties to protect the

ozone layer are beginning to work. Concentrations of

ozone-depleting chemicals are beginning to level off

or decrease. Continued monitoring by NASA and

other agencies and further study will be needed to

understand how CFC substitutes are affecting ozone

levels.

1979

Low High

Ozone Concentrations

Antarctic “Ozone Hole”

1997
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

NASA launched the first weather satellite (TIROS I) in 1960, beginning a successful series of

spacecraft that revolutionized weather prediction as well as improved hurricane-tracking techniques and severe-storm warnings, thus protecting lives and property in coastal areas around the

world. NASA continues to build all of the Nation’s civilian weather satellites for the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service, and is working

on new science and technologies designed to substantially improve forecasting in the future.

NASA pioneered studying the Earth’s surface from space, spawning a growing commercial

remote sensing sector. NASA-funded researchers are using satellite and ground data to help

improve agricultural productivity and enable precision farming. They are using satellite and

aircraft data to track the deterioration of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay, speed the clean-up of

hazardous waste sites, and forecast the potential for future flooding along the Mississippi River.

In addition, NASA analysis of data from Landsat first proved that satellites could be used to

accurately estimate tropical deforestation.

Two NASA/Italian satellites have helped scientists precisely track movements of the Earth’s

surface for some 20 years, increasing our understanding of earthquakes. NASA researchers

developed low-cost ground receivers of data from the Global Positioning System that enable

precise determination of land motion, another key in understanding seismic activity. NASA is

working with state and federal agencies to install a network of these receivers in the Los Angeles

Basin to precisely measure surface motion.

NASA ocean research provided the first precise global measurements of sea level and ocean

circulation to date. Data from a U.S./French satellite were used to track the progress of the 1997

El Niño, the latest episode of the climate shift that can bring devastating rains to California and

drought to Australia and Africa. In the future, these data will help us predict how El Niño will

affect different parts of the world. From 1978-86, a NASA instrument provided the first global

measurements of plant life in the world’s oceans, important to understanding both how climate

may be changing and where fish are gathering; this data set resumed with SeaWiFS on the

Orbcomm-2 satellite.

A NASA satellite confirmed the existence of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985 and has monitored

its size since then. Data from NASA aircraft, balloons, satellites, and ground research helped

confirm the link between human-produced chemicals and ozone destruction, and a recent

analysis of NASA data shows levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface have risen. This

research contributed significantly to the international treaties signed to protect the ozone layer.

Now, NASA and NOAA measurements indicate that the treaties are beginning to work.

WEATHER

OZONE

OCEANS

LAND USE

EARTHQUAKES

Facts The Earth Science Enterprise Accomplishments

Discoveries and “Firsts”

14
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

NASA led the government effort to establish an open access policy for the data from environmental research. This means that all data from government-funded research satellites are being

processed as quickly as possible and made readily available for wide use. The prototype (Version

0) of the Earth Science Enterprise’s data system—called EOSDIS—went on line in 1994 to allow

scientists from around the world to work with existing data sets, and to provide feedback to

designers on how the system could evolve and be even more useful. Tens of thousands of

individuals use the system each month, many of them via the Internet.

EOSDIS will be one of the largest civilian data systems ever constructed. While a prime role is to

support the Earth Science Enterprise’s researchers, a wide range of customers will use data from

EOSDIS. When fully operational, NASA estimates that the system will serve:

thousands of Earth scientists, in the U.S. and across the globe;

up to 10,000 other researchers, government officials, etc.; and

over 100,000 users in business, education, agriculture, media, and the public.

Facts aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa

The Earth Science Enterprise Accomplishments

Data and Research

OPEN

ACCESS

BROAD

USE

Preparing for the Future aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa NASA is helping to train the next generation of scientists and engineers to understand and study

Earth as an integrated system, and working with educators as research evolves and capabilities

change. As of 1998, the Earth Science Enterprise has:

helped develop an international science and education program—called GLOBE—in which

hundreds of thousands of U.S. and international K-12 students are making local measurements

and pooling their data through the Internet;

supported nearly four dozen universities to develop college courses (introductory and upper

level) in Earth System Science—thousands of students have already benefited;

awarded over 400 global change and Earth Science fellowships since 1989;

educated teachers at 2,500 U.S. sites about NASA’s Earth science findings through NASA’s

live education videoconference series;

supported over two dozen universities to develop new courses in Earth system science to be

taught to future teachers in the colleges of education;

developed an Internet-based graduate level Earth System Science teacher training course to

reach and train teachers all across the nation;

trained over 7000 teachers across the nation on selected Earth Science educational products;

sponsored a program of “ground truth” studies involving over 1000 teachers (and their classes)

from 38 states and four countries since 1991; and

led development of a government-wide effort to coordinate Earth science education efforts,

including extensive cooperation with teams of educators and officials from nearly every state

in the U.S. and education grants to more than half of them.

EDUCATION

&

TRAINING

15

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Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

♦ Work on more than 2000 research tasks, in nearly a dozen research areas;

♦ help develop more than two dozen instruments for space flight over the next decade, and participate on 73

interdisciplinary science teams;

♦ lead and contribute to major international scientific assessments, including those examining the climate,

forests, and pollution; and

♦ produce upwards of 800 scientific papers annually on the results of their research.

NASA directly has awarded:

401 Global change graduate fellowships between 1990 and 1998 (from 34 states and Puerto Rico)

 90 NASA graduate research fellows (Earth science) between 1989 and 1998 (from 20 states)

NASA also supports:

Education and training of thousands of graduate students assisting NASA-funded researchers at universities and laboratories across the U.S., developing the foundation for environmental research into the next

century.

Who are they?

In 1998, there were 1263 Research and Analysis investigators as well as 809 Earth

Observing System investigators which totals 2072 Earth Science Enterprise researchers

A:

Facts The Earth Science Enterprise Researchers

Q:

A:

Where are they from?

1872 U.S. researchers from nearly every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico

♦ Over half from universities/colleges

♦ About a third from 6 NASA installations

♦ Remainder from private research centers and more than a dozen other government agencies

200 researchers from 14 other nations (they are funded by their respective countries)

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

16

What about the future?

What do they do?

Q:
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

A: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaa

How is NASA using innovation to enhance science capability?

NASA’s progam has a sound foundation in

competitive, peer-reviewed science.

NASA is focused on seasonal-to-interannual

climate variations, land cover, natural hazards,

and ozone changes, as well as long-term climate

prediction. 9 external studies and numerous

internal reviews have been conducted over the

last 15 years which have validated our approach,

including a major review by the National

Academy of Sciences in 1995-96.

NASA’s approach to the Earth Science Enterprise

is focused on the future.

Our plan for scientific evolution moves away

from the old approach of large instruments

reflown as exact copies. NASA conducted the

first Biennial Review of the Earth Sciences

Enterprise in early 1997 and one is scheduled

every two years thereafter. These reviews are

designed to provide continuous program innovation in a comprehensive, orderly fashion involving our scientific, commercial, and international

partners.

Technological changes and new partnerships will

decrease our future costs by 30%—saving

billions of taxpayer funds. We are testing a new

approach to generate and distribute data.

Innovation and technology infusion increase our

ability to get results.

NASA is investing in the New Millennium

Program (NMP) now to demonstrate advanced

instruments and save costs of future missions.

NMP is a cooperative NASA/private industry/

university activity demonstrating next-generation

technology using lightweight, low-cost instruments.

17

THE EARTH SCIENCE ENTERPRISE IS AN

EVOLVING PROGRAM

Earth System Science Pathfinders (ESSP) enable

future science missions using low cost, cuttingedge small satellites under $120M with a 24-36

month development time. Two missions have

been selected for ESSP: one will study the

distribution of forests (2000) and the other will

explore the variability of Earth’s gravity field

(2001). ESSP will complement EOS with rapiddevelopment science to explore new areas of

understanding.

NASA depends on growing commercial, international, and interagency partnerships.

NASA is committed to purchasing data commercially now and in the future. Orbcomm-2

(formerly SeaStar) was launched in 1997, and

NASA completed two phases of a $50 million

scientific data purchase in 1998. The Commercial

Strategy for the Earth Science Enterprise is

promoting data applications, development of

partnerships in data analysis, and advancement in

technical development.

NASA is closely working with NOAA/DoD on a

next-generation weather satellite.

Our international partners are investing $4.0

billion in the Earth Science Enterprise and

another $4.7 billion in complementary missions

for a total roughly equivalent to the U.S. investment in the Earth Science Enterprise.

New decision strategy strives to expand international cooperation and increase cost sharing.

The pace of change in space technology has

accelerated since the end of the Cold War, and we

plan to take maximum advantage of these changes.

♦

♦

♦

♦

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Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise • 18

NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise seeks to improve

our understanding of the complex interactions of

Earth’s environment, and how it is changing.

Spacecraft already in orbit make measurements of

specific aspects of the Earth. This year, EOS

satellites will provide the first long-term, integrated

observations of the global environment. These

observations will help scientists understand how the

Earth’s land, air, water, and life interact, and

eventually should enable scientists to predict how

the Earth’s climate will change, rather than just

describing its features. EOS funding requirements

through 2000 have been reduced by 60% since

original approval by Congress in 1990, though

NASA has maintained the most important science

and program capabilities.

Getting information to people: The EOS Data

and Information System (EOSDIS)

EOSDIS is an integrated data system which

provides users with access to data and information

from NASA’s Earth observation missions. EOSDIS

is specifically designed to evolve and adapt to

changes (in user applications, technology, and

requirements) so as to best serve all current and

prospective users (defined and undefined).

Facts Earth Science Enterprise: Program Description

EOSDIS is also a distributed system, with a central

architecture (EOSDIS Core System) and a set of

interconnected data centers across the U.S., each

focusing on the processing, storage, and distribution of a different type of data about the Earth. The

Earth Science Enterprise is pursuing a federated

approach to EOSDIS data product generation which

will open up opportunities to a broad range of

industry, academic, and government partnerships to

produce both planned and innovative data products.

Earth Science Enterprise budget information

The largest budget element for the Earth Science

Enterprise is EOS. Through 2000, NASA estimates

the total cost of EOS will be approximately $6.5

billion. Post-2000, NASA has reduced estimated

EOS costs by 30% through a strategy of technology

infusion and interagency, international, and

commercial cooperation.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

Complementary Missions Through 2002

New Millennium Program missions - 1999/2001 Technology demonstration missions for advanced instruments to

reduce the cost of the next EOS series.

Earth System Science Pathfinder missions Small satellites for new science measurements; low-cost, rapid

- 2000/2001/2003 development missions using innovative academia/industry

partnerships

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission - 2000 Shuttle-based synthetic aperture radar flight to produce precise

digital elevation models of most of the Earth’s surface; partnership

with DoD and USGS

19

Facts Earth Science Enterprise: Mission Description

Mission (with planned launch date) Area of Study

Primary Missions Through 1998

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Ozone measurements (cooperative efforts with Russia & Japan)

 - 1978, 1991, 1996, 2000

Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) - 1984 Radiation budget, aerosols, ozone

Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) - 1991 Upper atmospheric chemistry (with UK & Canada)

ATLAS series - 1992-94 Shuttle experiments on the atmosphere and effects of the Sun

(with Germany, Belgium, & France)

TOPEX/Poseidon - 1992 Ocean circulation (with France)

LAGEOS-2 - 1992 Crustal motion & Earth rotation (with Italy)

Space Radar Laboratory 1&2 missions - 1994 Synthetic aperture radar scans of the Earth’s surface to classify

vegetation and penetrate loose ground cover

(with Germany and Italy)

Optical Transient Detector (OTD) - 1995 Lightning tracking experiment (with commercial firm)

NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) - 1996 Ocean surface wind speed & direction (with Japan)

ORBCOMM-2 (SeaWiFS) - 1997 Ocean biological productivity (data purchase)

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) - 1997 Tropical rainfall and storms (with Japan)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The Earth Observing System (measurement groupings)

Terra (formerly EOS AM-1) - 1999 Atmospheric/surface/solar processes controlling fresh

water resources and ecological processes affecting global climate

(with Japan and Canada)

Landsat-7 - 1999 Land surface features & changes (high resolution)

(with USGS and NOAA)

EOS ACRIM - 1999 Changes in total solar output

QuikSCAT / SeaWinds - 1999 Measures near-surface wind speed and direction over the oceans

ADEOS II - 2000 Will take an active part in the research of global climate changes and

their effect on weather phenomena (with Japan)

Jason 1 Radar Altimetry Mission - 2000 Role of oceans and ocean winds in climate system and

interaction with atmosphere (with Japan and France)

EOS PM - 2000 Causes of climate variations and basis for improvements in longterm weather & climate prediction (with Japan and Brazil)

EOS Laser Altimetry Mission (ICESat) - 2001 Ice sheet topography mapping

EOS Chemistry Series - 2002 / SAGE - 1999 (METEOR Behavior of ozone, other greenhouse gases; aerosols and

3M-1), 2001, 2002 their impact on global climate; as well as regional and global studies

of pollution (with Japan, U.K. and Russia)

EOS SOLSTICE - 2002 Changes in ultraviolet radiation output from the Sun

aaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise • 20

Sherry Reheuser

Alabama Space & Rocket Center

NASA MSFC Teacher Resource Center

One Tranquility Base

Huntsville, AL 35807

205/544-5812

Wendy McCallister

Alaska Science Center

Alaska Pacific University

4101 University Drive

Anchorage, AK 99508

907/563-4315

Larry Lebofsky

University of Arizona/

Space Sciences Bldg.

Lunar & Planetary Laboratory

1629 E. University Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85721

520/621-6947 or 621-6939

lebofsky@u.arizona.edu

Charles Hemann

University of Arkansas/Little Rock

Star Project-Planetarium

2801 South University

Little Rock, AR 72204

501/569-3259

cjh@curie.ualr.edu

Tom Sabatino

CSU Fresno, M/S 01

NASA SJV RTRC

5005 N. Maple Ave.

Fresno, CA 93740-0001

209/278-0355

Virginia Zeitman

NASA Ames Research Center

Teacher Resource Center

Mail Stop 253-2

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

415/604-3574

Michelle Rademacher

Dryden Flight Research Center

NASA Teacher Resource Center

Public Affairs Office (Trl 42)

Edwards AFB, CA 93523

805/258-3456

Facts Earth Science Enterprise: Educational Resources

For more information about the Earth Science Enterprise, please access the Internet sites and addresses

listed inside the front cover. For general educational

resources, please consult the list below, which is

organized alphabetically by state. In addition, NASA

has established the Central Operation of Resources for

Educators (CORE) to provide the national and

international distribution of NASA-produced educational materials in audiovisual format. Among

available items is the EOS Educators’ Visual Materials

package. For more information, contact:

NASA CORE

Lorain County Joint Vocational School

15181 Route 58 South

Oberlin, OH 44074

Phone: (216) 774-1051, Ext. 293 or 294

Fax: (216) 774-2144

E-mail: nasaco@leeca8.leeca.ohio.gov

Dr. Stephanie Wright

Delaware Aerospace Center

500C Duncan Road

Wilmington, DE 19809-2359

302/761-7494

Dr. Steve Dutczak

NASA Kennedy Space Center

Chief, Education & Awareness Branch

Mail Code PA-EAB/CSE-Room 3000

J.F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

407/867-4444

Tony Docal

Southern College of Technology

GYSTC/NASA RTRC

1100 S. Marietta Parkway

Marietta, GA 30060-2896

770/528-6272

adocal@sct.edu

Maryann Kobzyzshi

Barbers Point Elem. School

NASA Regional Teachers

Resource Ctr.

3001 Boxer Road,

NAS Barbers Point

Kapolei, HI 96707

808/673-7410

Matthew Kollasch

University of Northern Iowa

NASA RTRC

222 S.E. C.

Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0609

319/273-6066

Karen Byers

University of Idaho

Idaho RTRC

IMC College of Education

Moscow, ID 83844-3080

208/885-6030

Julia Settle

Parks College of St. Louis Univ.

NASA Teacher Resource Center

400 Falling Springs Road

Cahokia, IL 62206

618/337-7500 Ext. 299/258

Sr. Alma Messing

Museum of Science and Industry

NASA Teacher Resource Center

57th Street & Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60637

312/684-1414, Ext. 2426

Linda Wulf

University of Evansville

School of Education

1800 Lincoln Avenue

Evansville, IN 47722

812/479-2393

Kathy Daniels

Science Central

1950 North Clinton

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

219/424-2413

Steve Garner

Kansas Cosmosphere and Space

Center

NASA Teacher Resource Center

1100 N. Plum

Hutchinson, KS 67501

316/662-2305

Marilyn Barrett

Murray State University

Waterfield Library

NASA Teacher Resource Center

Murray, KY 42071

502/762-4420

Larry Powell

Bossier Parish Community College

NASA Teacher Resource Center

2719 Airline Drive

Bossier City, LA 71111

318/746-7754

Deborah Harris

Southern University-Shreveport

NASA RTRC

610 Texas Street, Suite 307

Shreveport, LA 71101

318/674-3444

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Edmund Burke

Maple High School

Vandenburg Air Force Base

One Carob Street

Lompoc, CA 93437

805/734-8332 Ext. 57334

Peter McClosky

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Mail Stop 186-131

4800 Oak Grove Drive

Pasadena, CA 91103

818/354-6916

Jason Theen

U.S. Space Foundation

NASA RTRC, Suite 2301

2860 South Circle Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80906-4184

719/576-8000

Roxanne Hosking

Eastern Connecticut State University

Media Room 135

83 Windham Street

Willimantic, CT 06226

860/465-5725

hoskingr@ecsus.ctstateu.edu

Julia Elam

NASA Mobile RTRC

NAFEO Services, Inc.

400 12th Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202/543-9111

Maretta Hemsley

Smithsonian Institution

National Air And Space Museum

Educational Services Dept., MRC 305

Washington, DC 20560

202/786-2109

Sandra Miller

Univ. of the District of Columbia

4200 Connecticut Ave., NE

MS 4201

Washington, DC 20008

202/282-3652
Q:

Understanding Our Changing Planet: NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise •

Lynda Matys

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Teacher Resource Laboratory

Mail Code 130.3

Greenbelt, MD 20771

301/286-8570

http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov

Dr. Glenn Cook, Director

Bridgewater State College

Maxwell Library

Media Service

Bridgewater, MA 02325

508/697-1242

508/697-1783

Carolyn Myers

Northern Michigan University

NASA Teacher Resource Center

Olson Library Media Center

Marquette, MI 49855

906/227-2270

Dr. Claudia Douglass

Central Michigan University

SMTC/NASA RTRC

101 Ronan Hall

Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

517/774-4387

Karen Conrad

Oakland University

SHES Resource Center

216 O’Dowd Hall

Rochester, MI 48309-4401

810/370-4230

Dr. Richard Mitchell

Mankato State University

NASA RTRC

Box 52, Armstrong Hall

Mankato, MN 56002

507/389-1516

Dr. Doreen Keable

St. Cloud State University

Center for Information Media

720 Fourth Avenue South

St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498

612/255-2062

Trina Cheatham

Choctaw Central High School Library

Route 7, Box 72

Philadelphia, MS 39350

601/656-5965

John Wilson

NASA Stennis Space Center

NASA Teacher Resource Center

Building 1200

Stennis Space Ctr., MS 39529-6000

601/688-3338

Lawrence Kenneth

Mississippi Delta Community College

NASA RTRC

P.O. Box 668, Highway #3

Moorhead, MS 38761

601/246-5631, Ext. 126

Teacher Resource Center

Tri-State Education Initiative

c/o Tishomingo High School

Highway 72 West

Iuka, MS 38852

601/423-7452

Mike Schulz

Western Montana College

Carson Library/NASA RTRC

710 S. Atlantic

Dillon, MT 59725

406/683-7541

Donna Maranville

University of Nebraska

State Museum/NASA RTRC

307 Morrill Hall

Lincoln, NE 68588-0332

402/472-6302

Dave Kriegler

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Kountze Planetarium

60th & Dodge, Room 144

Omaha, NE 68182-0266

800/553-NASA

Deborah Bazar

Community College of Southern NV

3200 E. Cheyenne Avenue C2A

N. Las Vegas, NV 89030-4296

702/651-4505

Barbara Herbert

Georgian Court College Library

900 Lakewood Avenue

Lakewood, NJ 08701-2697

908/364-2200, Ext. 335

herbert@georgian.edu

Judy McShannon

New Mexico State University

Wells Hall, Bay 4

Las Cruces, NM 88003

505/646-5227

Richard Sanchez

University of New Mexico

Division of Continuing Education

1634 University Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87131-1456

505/277-3861

Ellen Goldstein

The City College

Harris Hall, Room 109

Convent Avenue at 138th Street

New York, NY 10031

212/650-6993

Judy Walker

University of N. Carolina-Charlotte

NASA Teacher Resource Center

CIMC/Atkins Library

Charlotte, NC 28223

704/547-2559

nasartc@unccvm.uncc.edu

Suzette Rene Bieri

University of North Dakota

Center for Aerospace Science

University Station, Box 9008

Grand Forks, ND 58202-9008

701/777-4856

Kelvin Trefz

Eisenhower National Clearing House

1929 Kenny Road

Columbus, OH 43210-1079

614/292-8389

Dr. Gary Lare

University of Cincinnati

Curriculum Resources Center

613 Blegen Library

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0219

513/556-1430

Daniel Fay

NASA Lewis Research Center

NASA Teacher Resource Center

21000 Brookpark Rd., MS 8-1

Cleveland, OH 44135

216/433-2017

John Ulrich

Oklahoma State University

OSU/Aerospace Prof. Dev. Ctr.

308-A CITD

Stillwater, OK 74078-8089

405/744-6784

Dr. Jeffry Gottfries

Oregon Museum of Science

and Industry/NASA RTRC

1945 S.E. Water Avenue

Portland, OR 97214-3354

503/797-4579

Dr. Albert P. Nous

University of Pittsburgh/

NASA RTRC

CCIC-1N10 Forbes Quad

230 S. Bouquet Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412/648-7560

Maria Schwartz

University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez

Resource Center for Science & Eng.

Physics Building Office #200

Mayaguez, PR 00681

787/831-1022 or 831-1025

m_schwarz@rumac.upr.clu.edu

Dr. Ronald Tibbetts

Rhode Island College

Curriculum Resources Center

600 Mount Pleasant Avenue

Providence, RI 02908

401/456-8066

James Brown

Stanback Planetarium

South Carolina State University

300 College Street

Box 7636

Orangeburg, SC 29117

803/536-8709

Margie Rosario

Science Linkages in the

Community

TIE Office

1925 Plaza Blvd.

Rapid City, SD 57701

605/394-2912

Don Kellogg

University of Tennessee at Martin

Ctr. for Excellence in Sci/Math Ed.

145 Gooch Hall

Martin, TN 38238

901/587-7166

Daniel Nutter

University of Texas at Brownsville

NASA RTRC

80 Fort Brown

Brownsville, TX 78520

210/982-0295

dnutter@utb.edu

Leroy S. Jackson, Jr.

NASA Johnson Space Center

2101 NASA Road #1

TRC/Mail Code AP2

Houston, TX 77058-3696

713/483-8696

Nathan Smith

Utah State University

Educational Resources & Tech. Ctr.

170 Education Building

Logan, UT 84322-2845

801/797-1484

Dr. Richard Jones

Weber State University

College of Education

Curriculum Library

Ogden, UT 84408-1302

801/626-6280

Berit Bland

NASA Wallops Flight Facility

Education Complex-Visitor Center

Building J-17

Wallops Island, VA 23337

804/824-1776

Nick Koltun

Virginia Air & Space Center

Hampton Roads History Center

600 Settlers Landing Road

Hampton, VA 23669-4033

804/727-0900, Ext. 757

http://seastar.vasc.mus.va.us

Jane George, Educ. Specialist

NASA Langley Research Center

Teacher Resource Center

Mail Stop 400

Hampton, VA 23665-5225

804/864-5800

j.a.george@larc.nasa.gov

Lorraine Durrill

Radford University

Tyler Avenue/Walker Hall

Norwood Street

Radford, VA 24142

703/831-6284

Gail Poitras

Vermont College of

Norwich University

NASA RTRC

Schullmaier Hall

Montpelier, VT 05602

802/828-8845

Lisa Peterson

University of Washington

352 Johnson Hall

AK-50, c/o Geophysics Dept.

Seattle, WA 98195

206/543-1943

Marlene Salls, Coordinator

University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

Science Resource Center

NASA Room

1725 State St./Murphy Library

Rm 270

LaCrosse, WI 54601

608/785-8650

Carolyn Whitlock

University of Charleston

125 Riggleman Hall

2300 MacCorkle Avenue, SE

Charleston, WV 25304

304/357-4707

Jeanne Gasiorowski

Wheeling Jesuit College

Classroom of the Future

316 Washington Avenue

Wheeling, WV 26003

304/243-2388

Laurn Wilhelm

University of Wyoming

Learning Resource Center

Education Building, Room 222

Laramie, WY 82070

307/766-2527

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Printed on Recycled Paper

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

NP-1999-01-0007-GSFC