Temple University
In this section
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture on Science and Society
“A Mission to Planet Earth: Space Observations of Global Climate Change”
Lecture by Dr. Phil DeCola, NASA
Lead Scientist for Atmospheric Composition, Earth Science Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
Date: Friday, April 25, 2008
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: TBD
Colloquium open to the public
Abstract:
The Earth is a dynamic planet. The atmosphere, oceans, land, and frozen regions together with terrestrial and marine plants and animals, are ever changing and interacting in a myriad of ways. This complex set of interconnected elements and the processes, such as atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, ocean circulation, crustal movement, and biological processes, comprise the Earth system and form the basis of the scientific research that we refer to as Earth system science.
With the power to observe Earth from space and to employ this information in computational models, NASA and its partners, are gaining new insight into how this system works. Space-based observations and the scientific understanding about Earth system processes derived from these vantage points are essential to characterizing current change and predicting future change, and to providing sound scientific input for policy decisions for our Nation and our neighbors on the planet. I will give an overview of our motivation, goals, scientific questions, remote-sensing capabilities and the overall approach to global change research, and then show in detail, for a few cases, such as the global carbon cycle, how this approach can answer questions and lead toward improved understanding and predictions for weather, climate, air quality and the life-protecting ozone layer.
Contact
Brooke Walker
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
brooke.walker@temple.edu