A caravan of scientists and students begins a trek across southern Africa this week to better understand the region's diverse ecosystems and improve NASA's ability to monitor global change from space. The caravan is part of an international three-year study of the region's ecology, air quality, and land use.

By listening to raindrops splash on the ocean surface with underwater microphones, scientists are exploring how the ocean and the atmosphere interact.

A study of the impact of urbanization and industrialization over the past seven years using satellites shows that annual photosynthetic productivity can be reduced by as much as 20 days in some areas where urbanization is intense. The study by NASA researcher Marc Imhoff reveals that urbanization may be creating vast heat islands that can actually lengthen the growing season, but do not improve the productivity of the land.

Scientists, weather forecasters, and the public take possession of a valuable stream of meteorological and climate observations this week, as the first calibrated measurements from NASA's SeaWinds instrument on the Quikscat satellite become available , information that can improve weather forecasting around the world. The measurements and data products show developing weather systems with unprecedented detail.

Terra is continuing with instrument activation. The MODIS instrument opened its space view door as well as performed its first recorder dump of data. Terra has also continued its orbit ascent maneuvers.