Cambridge University Press, 10/25/2007EAN 9780521828703, ISBN10: 0521828708Hardcover, 400 pages, 31.7 x 25.8 x 3.5 cmLanguage: EnglishFor over 40 years, satellites have been orbiting the Earth quietly monitoring the state of our planet. Unseen by most of us, they are providing information on the many changes taking place, from movements in the land and volcanic eruptions, to human-caused changes such as the growth of cities, deforestation and the spread of pollutants in the atmosphere and oceans. Led by four editors with support from a production team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, many of the world's top remote sensing scientists showcase some spectacular and beautiful satellite imagery along with informed essays on the science behind these images and the implications of what is shown. This is a stunningly attractive and informative book for anyone interested in environmental issues and the beauty of our home planet, providing inspiration for students, teachers, environmentalists and the general public alike.ForewordPrefaceIntroductionPart I. Dynamic Atmosphere1. The dynamic atmosphereintroduction2. Cloudsare the shutters of the Earth changing?3. Cloud optical and microphysical properties4. Clouds and the Earth's radiation budget5. Water vapour6. A world of rain7. Hurricanesconnections with climate change8. Lightning9. Warming and cooling of the atmosphere10. Dust in the wind11. Atmospheric pollutiona global problem12. Ship tracks13. Airplane contrails14. Weekly cycle of nitrogen dioxide pollution from space15. The ozone hole16. The chlorine threat to Earth's ozone shieldPart IIVital Land17. The vital landintroduction18. The San Andreas Faultadjustments in the Earth's crust19. Mount Pinatuboan enduring volcanic hazard20. Extreme floods21. Satellite monitoring of Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever epidemics22. Snow coverthe most dynamic feature on the Earth's surface23. Glaciersscribes of climateharbingers of change24. Boreal forestsa lengthening growing season25. Soil moisturea critical underlying role26. The sunlit Earth27. Temperature of the land surfacePart III. The Restless Ocean28. The restless oceanintroduction29. Ocean bathymetry and plate tectonics30. Ocean surface topography and circulation31. Heat in the ocean32. Sea level rise33. Tides34. Winds over ocean35. The stormy Atlantic36. The ocean biosphere37. Coccolithophores and the 'Sea of Milk'38. Coral bleaching39. Hunting red tides from space40. Marine sediments41. TsunamisPart IV. The Frozen Caps42. The frozen capsintroduction43. Antarcticaa continent revealed44. Ice sheets on the move45. Ice sheets and the threat to global sea level46. The great white oceanthe Arctic's changing sea ice cover47. Bound togetherArctic sea ice, ocean and atmosphere48. Sea icethe shifting crust of the southern ocean49. Antarctic polynyasventilation, bottom water, and high productivity for the world's oceansPart V. Evidence of our Tenure50. Evidence of our tenureintroduction51. Mapping the ancient Maya landscape from space52. Global land use changes53. The changing role of fire on Earth54. The tropical rain forestthreatened powerhouse of the biosphere55. The green wave56. Monitoring urban areas globally and locally57. Gray wave of the great transformation58. Urban heat islands59. Urbanization in ChinaThe Pearl River Delta example60. Water issues in the fertile crescentirrigation in south-eastern Turkey61. Chronicling the destruction of Edenthe draining of the Iraqi marshes62. Destruction of the Aral Sea63. The desiccation of Lake Chad64. Industrial pollution in the Russian Arctic65. Oil spills at seaEpilogueGlossaryAppendix AAppendix BAppendix CIndex.'... an awe-inspiring collection of images of the Earth from space. This wonderful volume provides a masterful association of imagery and explanation. You will have difficulty closing it once opened. I give it my highest recommendation.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Internationally renowned explorer and adventurer
