Earthzine

Featured Article

Oceans of Possibility

The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth, yet their potential as a source of energy for social benefit has only recently begun to receive scientific, governmental and commercial investment. “Oceans of Possibility” surveys some of the developments entrepreneurs and scientists have been pushing to harness the power of the ocean as a direct source of energy to end dependence on fossil fuels.

Susannah Kopecky, posted on June 22nd, 2009
Articles, Energy, Featured Article, Oceans, Technology | No Comments »

Featured Person

Forest Watch science and education strive to halt climate change

As the international remote sensing community readies the 2009 IGARSS in Cape Town, South Africa this July, Earthzine recalls last summer’s conference in Boston, Massachusetts with this Featured Person interview with Dr. Barrett N. “Barry” Rock, professor of forestry, botany and remote sensing in the Complex Systems Research Center and the Department of Natural Resources at the University of New Hampshire. Barry Rock exemplifies IEEE’s mission to put science and technology to work for the benefit of humanity and Earth. He has “grown” a network of hundreds of students and teachers in Forest Watch, the outreach program he founded in 1991 in order to scientifically track the effects of U.S. efforts to diminish the damage of air pollution on human health and vegetation. In Boston, he demonstrated the Forest Watch model of university/K-12 partnership and IEEE scientific/community outreach at the 2008 IEEE International Geosciences and Remote Sensing Symposium.

Maeve Hickok, posted on May 7th, 2009
Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Energy, Featured Person, Politics, Would You Believe? | 1 Comment »

Original Articles

DMCii satellite imaging monitors Indonesian forests

DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii), which has just won a €100,000 contract from the European Space Agency (ESA), will demonstrate the value of its coordinated multi-satellite optical imagery for tropical forest monitoring in Indonesia.

DMCii , posted on June 29th, 2009
Articles, Earth Observation, Ecosystems | No Comments »

Five basic questions to answer in order to systematically integrate sustainable energy solutions

For reasons of ensuring sustainable access to energy for the future and preventing environmental damage, we as a society need to change the way we use energy. This change involves both developing new technologies and introducing these technologies into everyday use in an intelligent, systematic way. Instinctively, we focus on developing new technologies perhaps because these are the most tangible actions in bringing about transformation. However, the systematic integration component is equally important if we want to be successful in our aims

Francis Vanek, posted on June 15th, 2009
Energy, Sustainability, Technology | 2 Comments »

Twenty Years Later, Still on the Job DOE-Sponsored Data Measurement Program Celebrates Anniversary

Sometimes it just takes just a few people, a nagging problem and the persistence to solve it to make a huge difference in how the scientific community understands something as crucial to planet preservation as climate change. In this engaging story, freelance writer Lori Keesey tells how a small group of scientists convinced the U.S. Dept. of Energy to establish the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program in 1989.

Lori Keesey, posted on May 25th, 2009
Articles, Climate, Earth Observation, Technology | 5 Comments »

IEEE Committee on Earth Observation Standards Working Group (ISWG) is recruiting volunteers to build GEOSS

Imagine a world where adoption of uniform standards for all manner of Earth observation systems and services made universal interoperability the rule, not the exception. Working towards this goal, the international community of volunteers who comprise ISWG has been meeting regularly since May 2005. As it moves forward, ICEO has a call for volunteers to participate as a team of experts to establish best practices for the taxonomies and ontologism of Earth Observation.

Maeve Hickok, posted on May 21st, 2009
Articles, Earth Observation, GEOSS/ICEO News | No Comments »

The Power of a Brazilian Wind

Offshore wind turbines offer huge potential as a renewable energy source in today’s world, but the number of offshore wind farms is surprisingly small. Here, three scientists look at the wind resources off the southeast coast of Brazil as a possible sight that could one day provide Brazil with clean, carbon-free electricity.

Stephanie Renfrow, posted on May 15th, 2009
Articles, Ecosystems, Energy, Oceans, Sustainability, Technology | No Comments »

Syndicated Articles

Are rich tourists losing touch with nature?

Originally Published by New Scientist - Environment

Nature tourism is increasingly popular across the globe, although some rich nations buck the trend.

Posted on July 3rd, 2009
Biodiversity, Economy

Hillary Clinton Could Make or Break U.S. Dependence on the Tar Sands

Originally Published by Mother Jones

In the coming weeks, the State Department will decide whether to grant a permit for a 1,000-mile pipeline, capable of carrying up to 800,000 barels per day of crude from the tar sands in eastern Alberta.

Posted on July 2nd, 2009
Energy, Politics

Study examines nanoparticle uptake in marine ecosystems

Originally Published by Environmental Research Web

As nanomaterials begin to be manufactured in larger quantities in the coming years, scientists are concerned about ecosystems becoming unintentionally contaminated.

Posted on July 2nd, 2009
Ecosystems, Health

Whales’ Fate Hangs on Whaling Commission Power Struggle

Originally Published by Environment News Service

The commission’s 85 member governments opened the 61st IWC annual meeting Monday, after a year of closed-door discussions.

Posted on July 1st, 2009
Biodiversity, Politics

September Smoke Over the Amazon from 2005-2008

Originally Published by NASA Earth Observatory

This series of images shows aerosols (particles in the air) over the Amazon each September, the peak of the fire seasons, from 2005 through 2008. The amount of aerosols was unusually high in 2007, and unusually low in 2008.

Posted on July 1st, 2009
Climate, Earth Observation