NASA’s Earth Observatory Update 23 Apr 2003

We are pleased to report that NASA’s Earth Observatory has been nominated for a Webby Award in the “Education” category. Our team considers it an honor to have been nominated! In addition to the Academy decided Webby, there is the 2003 People’s Voice Award for each category. If you feel so inclined, you can register and vote for your favorite site for Education, as well as 29 other categories, at
http://www.webbyawards.com/peoplesvoice/index.html
Voting is free and easy, and the whole process takes just minutes.

As always, we appreciate you reading the Earth Observatory and the helpful feedback you give us.

Sincerely,

The Earth Observatory Team

New Features:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/

* Escape from the Amazon

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LBA_Escape/

In this era of heightened concern about the relationship between the build up of atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate change, scientists are working to itemize all the ways carbon moves into and out of forest ecosystems. Perhaps nowhere on Earth do questions about the role of forests in the carbon cycle need answers more than in the Amazon Rainforest. Using satellite mapping and ground-based observations, scientists have discovered that carbon dioxide gas escaping from wetlands and flooded areas is a significant source of carbon emissions in the Amazon.

In the News:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/

* NASA Satellite Measures Earth’s Carbon Metabolism
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NPP/npp.html

In honor of the Earth Day celebration, NASA scientists unveiled the first consistent and continuous global measurements of Earth’s “metabolism.” Data from the Terra and Aqua satellites are helping scientists frequently update maps of the rate at which plant life on Earth is absorbing carbon out of the atmosphere. The full press release as well as still images and TV-quality movies may be obtained from the URL above.

* Latest Images:

Smoke Billows from Fires in the Yucatan

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14788

NASA Satellites Measure Earth’s Metabolism

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14787

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14786

A Danish Perspective

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14785

Haze Shrouds the United Kingdom

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14784

Cause and Effect of Florida Black Water

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14783

Multiple Views of the Moon

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14782

Plume off the Coast of South Africa

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=14781

* NASA News

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/

– NASA Satellite Measures Earth’s Carbon Metabolism

– NASA Earth Day Features Bird Hikes & Talk About South Bay Ecosystems

– NASA and Native American Students Explore North Pole Via Live Webcasts

– Black Water Turns the Tide on Florda Coral

* Headlines from the press, radio, and television:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/Headlines/

– Andes Mountains: Climate Change Far From Glacial

– Red Tide Caused Mysterious Black Water

– NASA and Naval Research Lab Study Coastal Eddies

– Climate Change Threatens Fruit Industry

– 50 Arctic Lakes Show Dramatic Warming Effects

– Mass- Extinction Controversy Flares Again

* New Research Highlights

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/Research/

New Data:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/

* Updated Data:

Aerosol Optical Depth data for February – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/aer_od.modis.html

Aerosol Particle Radius data for February – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/aer_ra.modis.html

TOMS Aerosol Index data for November 2002 – February 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/aerosol.toms.html

Global Calcite data for January – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/calcite.ocean.html

Global Chlorophyll data for January – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/chloro.ocean.html

Cirrus Cloud Fraction data for February – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/cld_ci.modis.html

Ozone data for December 2002 – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/ozone.toms.html

Global Sea Surface Temperature data for March 2000 – 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/sst.ocean.html

UV Radiation Exposure data for December 2002 – March 2003

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/uv.toms.html