As the Earth rotates, space travelers had the unique perspective to see nearly every part of the Earth's surface in a matter of days. Today an invaluable collection of Earth images is available to scientists and geographers to study. The sciences include ecology, hydrology, oceanography, geology, and others. Research includes measuring air polution and the atmosphere, floods, plate tectonics, deforestation and forestry, agriculture, archaeology, weather, climate change, forest fires, global warming, marine ecosystems, mineral deposits, and the effect of humans on our fragile planet. For example, Ecologists use images of the tropical rain and temperate forest to study land use, volume, types and extent of vegetation, and the effects of fires, floods and clear cutting.
Hydrologist use the data to study wetlands and snow cover to estimate the soil moisture.
Oceanogrpahers use data to study how the Earth's climate is moderated by the ocean, particularly heat-transporting currents like the Gulf Stream. Education Geography is a science that deals with the physical, biological, and cultural features of the Earth's surface. Sites that can be referenced from this page offer photographs, lesson plans and activities, and research in the area of geography. This video resource guide contains background material and classroom activities related to the geography and geology of North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia as seen from the vantage point of orbit. The videotape to accompany this guide may be ordered from NASA CORE .