SCIENCE FOCUS

The GES DISC is an important organization in the Earth Sciences Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Earth Sciences Division is committed to advancing science and technology for the purpose of addressing the following question:

"How is the Earth changing and what are the consequences for life on Earth?"

The scientific strategy for addressing this critical topic is organized around five guiding elements, listed below.

• Variability - Discern and describe how the Earth is changing.
• Forcing - Identify and measure the primary causes of change in the Earth system.
• Response - Determine how the Earth system responds to natural and human-induced changes.
• Consequences - Identify the consequences of change in the Earth system for human civilization.
• Prediction - Enable the prediction of future changes in the Earth system.

Each of the examples provided below demonstrate how scientific research into Earth's physical and biological systems using NASA remote sensing data is discovering new insights into each these elements. The GES DISC and the Earth Sciences Division are committed to the fullest utilization of scientific data and the highest quality research standards to advance science, provide vital information to decision makers, and to inform the public.

VARIABILITY
Discern and describe how the Earth is changing

• Cloud variability and Climate Signatures in MODIS Level-3 Data (PDF) (2006)
• Sahelian albedo variability from in situ and MODIS data (PDF) (2007)
• Statistical variability of top of atmosphere cloud-free shortwave aerosol radiative effect (2007)
• Modeling Biomass Consumption Variability in Forest Fires (2007)
• Large-scale variability in the North Pacific (2006)

FORCING
Identify and measure the primary causes of change in the Earth system

• Daily global maps of carbon monoxide from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (PDF) (2006)
• Dust transport and deposition observed from the Terra-MODIS spacecraft over the Atlantic Ocean (PDF) (2005)
• The Sun Approaches Its 11 Year Minimum and Activity Cycle 24 (PDF) (2007)
• Accuracy assessment of the MODIS Snow Products (PDF) (2007)
• New NASA AIRS Data to Aid Weather, Climate Research (2007)

RESPONSE
Determine how the Earth system responds to natural and human-induced changes

• Ozone Hole Watch
• NASA Finds Snow Melt Causes Large Ocean Plant Blooms (2005)
• Climatology of Upper-Tropospheric Relative Humidity from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Implications for Climate (PDF) (2006)
• Heat Wave Across the United States (2007)
• Summer on Lake Superior (2007)

CONSEQUENCES
Identify the consequences of change in the Earth system for human civilization

• Floods in Texas and Oklahoma (2007)
• Drought in the United States (2007)
• Fires in Greece (2007)
• Seasonal Rain Floods in the Sahel (2007)
• Tunguruhua Volcano in Ecuador (2006)

PREDICTION
Enable the prediction of future changes in the Earth system

• Improving global analysis and forecasting with AIRS (PDF) (2006)
• Short Term Prediction Research and Transition Center - CloudSat Product Development (2006)
• Implementing GEOSS Goals in Mesoamerica Through the SERVIR Project (2006)
• Observational and Modeling Requirements for Predicting Drought on Seasonal to Decadal Time Scales (PDF) (2005)
• Predicting Productivity: Managing Land from Space (2006)