{"id":185158,"date":"2025-03-12T04:22:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T18:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/science-research\/earth-science\/summary-of-special-engage-session-on-remote-sensing-and-the-future-of-earth-observations\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T04:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T18:22:23","slug":"summary-of-special-engage-session-on-remote-sensing-and-the-future-of-earth-observations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=185158","title":{"rendered":"Summary of Special Engage Session on \u201cRemote Sensing and the Future of Earth Observations\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button 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class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"81\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=300,23 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=768,60 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=1024,80 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=400,31 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=600,47 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-meeting-summary-banner.png?resize=900,70 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\">\n<div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\">\n<p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">27 min read<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Summary of Special Engage Session on \u201cRemote Sensing and the Future of Earth Observations\u201d<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On October 16, 2024, a special session of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLPuSUxNsgnK5wV4ZfryKv9azzhk9uM0vB\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Goddard Engage series<\/a> took place in the Goett Auditorium (Building 3) at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The Engage series is intended to explain work at GSFC in an immersive and nontechnical setting. GSFC\u2019s Office of Communications, Earth Sciences Division, and Scientific Colloquium organized this special session.<\/p>\n<p>The featured speaker for this event was The Honorable<strong> Al Gore<\/strong> [<em>former Vice President of the U.S.<\/em>], who has a long history of advocating for the environment and raising public awareness of the worsening \u201cclimate crisis\u201d \u2013 having received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.<\/p>\n<p>The event also featured a panel discussion called \u201cRemote Sensing and the Future of Earth Observations.\u201d Three distinguished scientists spoke about what drew their interest in Earth science and responded to questions from the moderator and the in-person and online audience. <\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Gray Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Editor\u2019s Note<\/strong>: This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all NASA\u2019s future plans regarding Earth Remote Sensing.\u00a0Rather the panelists focused on some specific activities on which they had expertise that was intended to give a sense of the full suite of activities planned for the coming decade.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Gray Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-grayseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While <em>The Earth Observer<\/em> typically does not usually report on Center-specific events, the newsletter makes an exception for this event because the former Vice President participated \u2013 and because the topic of the panel discussion is directly relevant to this publications\u2019\u00a0wider audience. The remainder of this article summarizes the Engage session, including Gore\u2019s remarks, the panel discussion, and the question-and-answer (Q&#038;A) session that followed. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vJH8fB0J78M&#038;list=PLPuSUxNsgnK5wV4ZfryKv9azzhk9uM0vB&#038;%23038;index=1\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube video<\/a> of the full event is available for viewing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Opening Remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dalia Kirschbaum <\/strong>[GSFC\u2014<em>Director of Earth Sciences Division<\/em>] welcomed the participants \u2013 both in-person and virtual. <strong>Casey Swails<\/strong> [NASA Headquarters\u2014<em>Deputy Associate Administrator<\/em>] continued by thanking Gore for being one of most influential voices in the U.S. on climate . She said that Gore\u2019s words and actions have inspired much more than just the <a href=\"https:\/\/eospso.nasa.gov\/missions\/deep-space-climate-observatory\" rel=\"noopener\">Deep Space Climate Observatory<\/a> (DSCOVR) mission. NASA \u2013 and GSFC in particular \u2013 has been conducting environmental studies since its beginning. She named historical missions, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov\/nmc\/spacecraft\/display.action?id=1958-002B\" rel=\"noopener\">Vanguard<\/a>, the Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS), <a href=\"https:\/\/landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat<\/a> (partnership with U.S. Geological Service), and the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth-science\/missions\/earth-system-observatory\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth Observing System<\/a> (EOS) \u2013 including more than 20 years of observations from the three Flagship Missions:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/terra.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Terra<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/aqua.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Aqua<\/a>, and<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/aura\/\" rel=\"noopener\"> Aura<\/a>. (<em>The Earth Observer<\/em>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth-science\/the-earth-observer\/archives\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives Page<\/a> includes a \u201cBibliography of Articles with Historical Content\u201d in which links to articles written on most of the missions mentioned in the previous sentence can be found.)<\/p>\n<p>Swails pointed out that GSFC is home to the largest population of Earth Scientists who produce more than 400 journal articles each year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be you and your successors who will also make NASA (GSFC) the future of Earth observations,\u201d said Swails. \u201cYou are continuing to accelerate core science research and enable action through the newly established Earth System Observatory project office, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) project office, and new flagship missions, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/aos.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Atmospheric Observing System<\/a> (AOS) and <a href=\"https:\/\/landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov\/satellites\/landsat-next\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat Next<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On behalf of \u2013 at the time of the meeting \u2013 <strong>NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/strong>, Swails thanked Gore for participating in the Engage event, and she thanked all the scientists and engineers \u2013 past and present \u2013 that have led the way in making NASA (GSFC) a leader in Earth observations for more than six decades.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Featured Speaker: The Honorable Al Gore<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum then introduced <strong>Al Gore<\/strong> \u2013 shown in <strong>Photo 1<\/strong> \u2013 whom she described as an environmental advocate and a central figure in advancing public discourse on climate  and sustainability. Following Gore\u2019s many years of political service, he confronted the world with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/algore.com\/library\/an-inconvenient-truth\" rel=\"noopener\">An Inconvenient Truth,\u201d <\/a>a documentary on climate change that helped raise global awareness of the worsening state of Earth\u2019s climate. For these efforts, Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 12, 2007.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage photo 1\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=300&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=768&#038;h=512&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=683&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=400&#038;h=267&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=600&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=900&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo1.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\"><strong>Photo 1<\/strong>. Former U.S. Vice President <strong>Al Gore<\/strong> was the featured speaker at the Engage session on October 16, 2024. In addition to overall discussion of NASA\u2019s Earth observing fleet and how Earth observations are used to investigate Earth\u2019s changing climate, Gore\u2019s remarks included reminiscences about his involvement in the Triana mission, which NASA canceled, then later revived and revised becoming known as DSCOVR \u2013 a NASA\u2013NOAA partnership.\u00a0See related article, \u201cSummary of the 10<sup>th<\/sup> DSCOVR EPIC and NISTAR Science Team Meeting,\u201d to learn more about DSCOVR and its scientific achievements over a decade in space.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong>Photo credit<\/strong>: Travis Wohlrab [NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)]<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kirschbaum continued that Gore played a pivotal role in inspiring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespacereview.com\/article\/4228\/1\" rel=\"noopener\">Triana <\/a>, a NASA Earth science mission that would provide a near continuous view of Earth and measure Earth\u2019s complete albedo while orbiting the first Sun\u2013Earth Lagrange Point (hereinafter referred to as \u201cthe L1 point\u201d). While Triana was canceled, the concept would live on and ultimately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespacereview.com\/article\/4236\/1\" rel=\"noopener\">transition into the NASA\u2013NOAA DSCOVR mission,<\/a>\u00a0which celebrates the 10<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of its launch in February 2025. Gore made brief remarks at the opening session of the 10<sup>th<\/sup> DSCOVR Science Team meeting earlier in the day before coming to this meeting. A full \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/science-research\/earth-science\/summary-of-the-10th-dscovr-epic-and-nistar-science-team-meeting\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Summary of the 10<sup>th<\/sup> DSCOVR EPIC\/ NISTAR Science Team Meeting\u201d <\/a>is published as a separate article in <em>The Earth Observer<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Gore began by thanking all who worked on DSCOVR and other missions at NASA and NOAA. He thanked <strong>Makenize Lystrup<\/strong> [GSFC\u2014<em>Center Director<\/em>] and the team for welcoming him. He also acknowledged the DSCOVR project leaders from GSFC: <strong>Adam Szabo <\/strong>[<em>DSCOVR Project Scientist (PS)<\/em>], <strong>Alexander Marshak<\/strong> [<em>DSCOVR Deputy PS<\/em>], <strong>Jay Herman <\/strong>[<em>Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera<\/em><em> (EPIC) Instrument Scientist<\/em>], <strong>Richard Eckman <\/strong>[<em>National Institutes of Health\u2019s Advanced Radiometer<\/em> (<em>NISTAR) Instrument Scientist<\/em>], and all those who worked on the mission.<\/p>\n<p>Gore reminisced about when the Triana mission was put into storage in 2001. He remembered his former Senate colleague, <strong>Barbara Mikulski <\/strong>[<em>longtime MD Senator<\/em>] assuring him that they would \u201cfeed [the satellite] space snacks\u201d and take care of it until it was ready to use \u2013 which ultimately happened in 2008. He also acknowledged those who\u2019ve worked on the DSCOVR mission since launch to extend its capabilities. He also recognized <strong>Francisco Valero<\/strong> [<em>former Triana Principal Investigator<\/em>] who was at University of California, San Diego\u2019s Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the time, and was integral in championing the first iteration of this mission (i.e., Triana), as well as <strong>Alan Lazarus <\/strong>[Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)\u2014<em>Research Scientist<\/em>], who helped design DSCOVR\u2019s solar particle sensor. (<strong>Jay Herman<\/strong> was also involved in Triana.)  He also mentioned how <strong>Bill Nelson <\/strong>chaired the House Space Subcommittee contemporaneously to when Gore chaired the Senate Space Subcommittee.<\/p>\n<p>Gore acknowledged that DSCOVR is just one member of NASA\u2019s fleet of Earth observing satellites \u2013 see <strong>Figure 1 <\/strong>er\u2013 plus those of domestic and international partners. What\u2019s unique about DSCOVR, however, is its location \u2013 orbiting the L1 point, nearly one million miles (1.1 million km) away from Earth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=1440&#038;h=810&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=1440&#038;h=810&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage figure 1-1\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=1440&#038;h=810&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Earth-Fleet-Chart---01162025.png?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=1440&#038;h=1112&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1112\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=1440&#038;h=1112&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage figure 1-2\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=1440&#038;h=1112&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=300&#038;h=232&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=768&#038;h=593&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=1024&#038;h=791&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=400&#038;h=309&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=600&#038;h=463&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=900&#038;h=695&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/DSCOVR_orbit.png?w=1200&#038;h=927&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>.\u00a0[<em>Top<\/em>] NASA\u2019s Earth Observing Fleet consists of over 20 satellite missions that, with one exception, continuously monitor our home planet from polar or low Earth orbit \u2013 including several installed on the International Space Station.\u00a0The exception is the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) which orbits the first Earth\u2013Sun Lagrange point in the Earth\u2013Sun system [<em>bottom<\/em>], about 1 million mi (~1.1 million km) from Earth [bottom]. This gives the mission\u2019s two Earth-observing instruments (EPIC and NISTAR) a unique vantage point for observing the full sunlit Earth. [<em>Bottom<\/em>] Some version of the placeholder diagram above showing DSCOVR orbiting the L1 point between Sun and Earth, 1 million miles from Earth.\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong>Figure credit<\/strong>:\u00a0TBD<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It can be argued that the modern environmental movement \u2013 which resulted in the development  NASA\u2019s  Earth Observing System and other Earth observing\u00a0missions\u00a0\u2013 was inspired by a single image \u2013 \u201cEarthrise,\u201d which NASA Astronaut <strong>Bill Anders<\/strong> took of Earth on Christmas Eve 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission. The adage that \u201ca picture is worth 1000 words\u201d proved true in this instance as this single image changed how society viewed Earth, opening society\u2019s awareness to the fragility and beauty of our home planet. Four years later, on Christmas Eve 1972, the first \u201cBlue Marble\u201d image was released, having been taken by Apollo-12 astronauts, as the spacecraft approached the Moon. (The image inspired <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Blue_Marble#Subsequent_Blue_Marble_images\" rel=\"noopener\">subsequent \u201cBlue Marble\u201d images<\/a> created using composites of satellite data.)<\/p>\n<p>Per the Wikipedia page linked above, \u201cThe [Blue Marble image] has been identified as one of the most widely publicized and influential images since its release \u2013 particularly in the advocacy for environmental protection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gore mentioned this in his remarks and stressed that this iconic image helped inspire the Triana\/DSCOVR concept.\u00a0This mission has helped scientists develop a more \u201ccomplete picture\u201d of Earth.\u00a0He noted that today, DSCOVR\/EPIC obtains a new \u201cBlue Marble\u201d (i.e. a full-disc image of Earth) every fifteen minutes \u2013 e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/epic.gsfc.nasa.gov\/galleries\/2022\/blue_marble\" rel=\"noopener\">a set of images of Africa obtained on the 50th anniversary to mimic the original<\/a> image from Apollo 12. Gore said that we learn so much about Earth from observing it from above (e.g., cloud dynamics, heating, vegetation, and the concentrations of ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter in the atmosphere). More than 100 peer-reviewed papers have been published on the unique science done at the L1 point by DSCOVR.<\/p>\n<p>Gore said that DSCOVR \u2013 along with the rest of NASA\u2019s Earth observing fleet \u2013 has produced a treasure trove of information that makes it possible to make the invisible, visible. What was once a mystery can now be explained with scientific data. When DSCOVR was proposed in 1998, the scientific community was on the verge of a technological explosion via the Internet that would allow the collection, storage, processing, and display of untold mountains of information about Earth. It has now evolved even further with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), leading to another potential information explosion just at the time when having such information is crucial.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are in the midst of a violent collision between our current society\u2019s organization and the surprisingly fragile ecological systems on which human flourishing depends,\u201d said Gore.<\/p>\n<p>As the participants convened to celebrate the 10<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of DSCOVR, he encouraged those present to think about how this data can be applied to address the incredible challenges of our generation \u2013 chief among them the Earth\u2019s rapidly changing climate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to grapple with just how serious the [situation] is,\u201d said Gore.\u00a0However, he noted that, \u201cMother nature is a persuasive advocate. She has our attention!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He cited the two hurricanes \u2013 Helene and Milton \u2013 that impacted the U.S. in the weeks prior to this event. Despite the ever-present threat, Gore also pointed to the problematic \u201cassault on funding\u201d for science throughout the Federal budget. To address this need, Gore spoke of the growing need for private\u2013public partnerships to address the imposing climate crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Gore discussed how <a href=\"https:\/\/climatetrace.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Climate TRACE<\/a>, the organization he cofounded, is harnessing NASA data and fusing it with other sources to pinpoint the sources of GHGs. Climate TRACE has determined the 500 million most relevant point sources, along with <em>metadate<\/em> (data describing the data). In essence, Climate TRACE seeks to reverse-engineer the GHG levels based on other environmental variables. He said that the <a href=\"https:\/\/climatetrace.org\/news\/climate-trace-data-reveal-high-impact-opportunities-for\" rel=\"noopener\">newest Climate TRACE dataset<\/a> will be released on November 14, 2024 at COP-29. Gore acknowledged that NASA [Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)] contributes data and conducts analysis of data used in Climate TRACE.<\/p>\n<p>Quoting Lord Kelvin,  Gore said, \u201cyou can only manage what you measure,\u201d noting that our society has been having trouble managing global warming to date.  However, thanks to organizations like NASA, our society is gaining the ability to measure it accurately.<\/p>\n<p>Gore then referenced John F. Kennedy\u2019s famous speech at Rice University in 1961 that is most remembered for the line about  \u201cgoing to the Moon in this decade.\u201d But in that speech Kennedy also said, \u201cWe set sail on this new sea, because there is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won. And they must be won and used for the progress of all people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gore applied this quote to the ongoing study of Earth\u2019s climate. He said that our society is continuing to \u201csail on this new sea.\u201d He gave kudos to all the people at NASA who are seizing all the opportunities to gather and reflect on \u201cnew knowledge\u201d and apply it to issues directly relevant to societal flourishing.<\/p>\n<p>Gore concluded by saying that the DSCOVR mission is a great example of combining scientific discovery and public enlightenment. It has been incredibly successful, and he feels it should be extended, counting on scientists to expand our access to the knowledge we need to ensure the survival of human civilization.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you ever doubt we have the political will to make changes,\u201d said Gore, \u201cjust remember that political will is itself a renewable resource.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a standing ovation from the audience, Kirschbaum thanked Gore for his remarks and his continued support of the Earth science community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel Discussion on the Future of Earth Science Remote Sensing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum then transitioned to the panel discussion. She reflected on how we live with the impacts of climate  every day \u2013 e.g., air quality impacting students, hurricanes impacting coastlines and coastal communities, shifting storm patterns impacting farmers.<\/p>\n<p>Since its inception in 1958, NASA has been a leader in studying Earth. The agency makes critical observations from space, aircraft, and the ground to understand climate change. NASA researchers integrate this information into climate models to understand the past, represent the present, and project the future state of our home planet.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum said that today\u2019s panel discussion focuses on the future. While questions remain, she emphasized that the agency works with partners on opportunities to do things differently and open new possibilities. She then introduced three NASA scientists, who also provide leadership beyond the walls of NASA.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Miguel Rom\u00e1n<\/strong>[GSFC Earth Sciences Division\u2014<em>Deputy Director for Atmospheres<\/em>];<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lesley Ott<\/strong> [GSFC\u2014<em>Project Scientist for the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center<\/em>]; and<\/li>\n<li><strong>John Bolten <\/strong>[GSFC\u2014<em>Chief of Hydrological Sciences Branch<\/em>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>She asked each panelist \u2013 shown in <strong>Photo 2<\/strong> \u2013 to start with by sharing a bit of their story with the audience to give some initial insights into their work and background on how they themselves became interested in studying climate.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage photo 2\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=300&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=768&#038;h=512&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=683&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=400&#038;h=267&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=600&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=900&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo2.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\"><strong>Photo 2<\/strong>.\u00a0Following Gore\u2019s remarks, there\u00a0was a panel discussion entitled \u201cRemote Sensing and the Future of Earth Observations.\u201d <strong>Dalia Kirschbaum <\/strong>[GSFC\u2014<em>Director of Earth Sciences Division<\/em> \u2013 <em>left<\/em>] moderated the discussion, directing questions to the three panelists seated to her right [<em>left to right<\/em>]: <strong>Miguel Rom\u00e1n<\/strong> [GSFC Earth Sciences Division\u2014<em>Deputy Director for Atmospheres<\/em>]; <strong>Lesley Ott<\/strong> [GSFC\u2014<em>Project Scientist for the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center<\/em>]; and <strong>John Bolten <\/strong>[GSFC\u2014<em>Chief of Hydrological Sciences Branch<\/em>].<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong>Photo credit<\/strong>: Travis Wohlrab<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Rom\u00e1n<\/strong> began his career as an intern at NASA. After rising through the ranks, he left NASA to work in private industry before recently returning to GSFC. Originally from Puerto Rico, Rom\u00e1n has been \u201cinside the walls of a hurricane six times in his life.\u201d He said that American citizens are increasingly experiencing what he experienced as a youth. He noted that two things happen when one in the middle of a hurricane \u2013 barometric pressure drops (ears pop) and there is a distinctive hissing sound.<\/p>\n<p>Rom\u00e1n said the term <em>hurricane<\/em> is derived from a Taino word. He explained that in Puerto Rican folklore, <em>Jurac\u00e1n <\/em>(i.e., the \u201cevil\u201d Goddess of wind \u2013 especially hurricanes) was in opposition to <em>Yucahu<\/em> (i.e., the \u201cgood\u201d God of creation, agriculture, peace, and tranquility).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe hissing winds of Jurac\u00e1n now reverberate across Florida, \u201c said Rom\u00e1n\u2014see <strong>Figure 2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full margin-left-auto margin-right-auto hds-media-align-inline hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-video\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full flex-column\">\n<div class=\"hds-video-container width-full embed-container\"><video title=\"Hurricane Milton animation\" id=\"nasa-plus-tP6KI\" class=\"video-js video-player vjs-fluid width-full\" data-setup='{\"controls\":true,\"preload\":\"auto\",\"plugins\":{\"mux\":{\"debug\":false,\"data\":{\"env_key\":\"91nns8oppqdfqc44lgo4b1gni\",\"player_name\":\"www.nasa.gov Player\",\"video_name\":\"Hurricane Milton animation\"}}}}'  ><source src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/hurricanemilton_vir2_20241010_anim.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-media-caption hds-caption padding-y-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Figure 2<\/strong>.\u00a0 Animation of brightness temperature data obtained by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on NASA\u2019s Aqua mission, showing Hurricane Milton as it approached and impacted Florida in October 2024.  Colder temperatures (blues)  are associated with the tops of high clouds, so the storm track stands out from the warmer temperature over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Figure credit<\/strong>:\u00a0TBD<\/p>\n<p>He stressed that these winds are \u201cdifferent\u201d \u2013 more intense \u2013 than the ones dealt with in the past.\u00a0He added that we now have \u201cland hurricanes\u201d \u2013 called <em>derechos<\/em>, which are intense, widespread, and\u00a0fast-moving\u00a0lines of storms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ott <\/strong>said that, in a sense, \u201cscience chose her.\u201d She was raised by two scientists who met while studying physics. But she chose to study meteorology because it seemed to her to be the most \u2018personal\u2019 of the sciences. As Kirschbaum alluded to in her remarks earlier, weather impacts us all \u2013 physically and even emotionally. She loved this aspect of weather and wanted to understand the science behind the \u201cair that we all swim in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWeather seems to be less in background and more on the \u2018front page\u2019 these days,\u201d said Ott. \u201cWe regularly hear news stories about superstorms and devastating fires. We\u2019re all increasingly impacted by extreme weather.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also spoke about the \u2018untold\u2019 costs of climate change (e.g., lost school days, lost wages, not knowing if your home will survive a natural disaster), which has impacted how Ott practices meteorology. While she is a meteorologist, Ott doesn\u2019t work on weather prediction. Instead, she uses the same kind of predictive models that are used for weather forecasting to focus on GHGs, which could help society navigate the realities of a changing planet.<\/p>\n<p>In her work, Ott tracks how climate changes \u2013 for better or worse. While the trend toward a warming world (climate) fuels more frequent and powerful extreme events (weather), e.g., heat waves, droughts, and storms, there are exceptions achieved through intentional human intervention \u2013 e.g., the recovery of the ozone hole (bought about through enforcement of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments) and improvements of air quality. Both of these examples of <em>positive change<\/em> illustrate the value of international collaboration to address environmental issues. Ott said that research efforts can help to \u201ctrack the future of the planet,\u201d leading to more positive changes.\u00a0Extending these positive changes to GHGs will help communities more effectively plan for and respond to a rapidly changing world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bolten<\/strong> began by saying that he comes from Wood County WV and is the youngest of five boys. He could see the Ohio River from his kitchen window where he swam and canoed. Bolten explained that Wood County is in an area known as <em>chemical valley<\/em>, because a large number of chemical plants in the region provide important products for the world. These plants employ many of the people living in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Bolten\u2019s father designed wastewater treatment systems for these chemical plants and passed along a deep appreciation of the impact humans can have on the environment. Similarly, Bolten spent many years enjoying the Ohio River and West Virginia wilderness, which instilled in him the value of protecting our freshwater resources. He grew up immersed in the environment and wanted to contribute to the greater good of society and make a positive difference in the world. He said that NASA is championing these same core values as an innovator and leader in Earth System Science. Bolten thanked Gore for spurring public discourse around climate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question and Answer Session<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirschbaum<\/strong> began the Q&#038;A session with several prepared questions followed by questions from both in-person and virtual participants \u2013 along with some more interspersed comments from the guest of honor.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum posed the first question to Rom\u00e1n: <strong>How do you see GSFC (NASA) advancements in tech and science helping us to predict extreme weather (e.g., heatwaves and hurricanes)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rom\u00e1n began his answer by stating that NASA\u2019s <em>EOS era<\/em> is coming to an end \u2013 after more than two decades of observations. NASA\u2019s EOS flagship missions \u2013 Terra, Aqua, and Aura \u2013 have each far exceeded their scheduled mission life. While scientists and engineers work together to extend the function as long as possible, practical realities (e.g., fuel supply, orbit decay) dictate that all the satellites must be decommissioned in the next few years. The EOS era has taught NASA and its partners many lessons about how to operate under what he described as \u201can accelerated set of extreme climate events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe simply could not have anticipated some of things we\u2019re facing now when the EOS missions were designed,\u201d said Ramon, citing the development of derechos and the rapid intensification of tropical cyclones.<\/p>\n<p>The EOS mission instrument teams developed a whole Earth observing technology toolbox on the fly. For example, scientists learned that while microwave sounders work well over water, these instruments face challenges over land due to surface emissivity variations. Infrared (IR) sounders, on the other hand, provide valuable data over all surfaces during clear conditions, but they can\u2019t penetrate thick clouds. Investigators combined both measurements, producing a powerful tool for observing the changing Earth system and beginning to quantify the impact of those changes.<\/p>\n<p>While it is sad to see the EOS era end, Rom\u00e1n said that NASA is entering an exciting new era where new technologies will allow for miniaturization of sounders. He also mentioned new observing technologies, such as the Hyperspectral Microwave Photonic Instrument (HyMPI) . The microwave sounders currently flying \u2013 which are part of NASA\u2019s current Program of Record \u2013 retrieve atmospheric profiles with approximately 20 vertical layers. By contrast, HyMPI can produce as many as 1000 layers, offering enhanced thermodynamic sounding skill in the Earth\u2019s<em> planetary boundary layer<\/em> (PBL) \u2013 the first 2 km (~1 mi) of the atmosphere \u2013 over conventional microwave sounders from the current Program of Record.<\/p>\n<p>Rom\u00e1n emphasized that the PBL is an area that is still poorly observed and understood. This lowest level of the atmosphere is where humans and other plants and animals\u00a0live \u2013 and where most climate impacts occur.\u00a0It is thus vitally important to improve our understanding of the PBL. To emphasize this point, Rom\u00e1n cited that one million stillbirths can be linked to tropospheric ozone pollution every year.  The encouraging news is that NASA\u2019s data can inform public health policy to help mitigate these harmful impacts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe problem is an integrated one,\u201d said Rom\u00e1n, \u201cand the Earth System Observatory (ESO) is designed for all of its missions to be integrated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rom\u00e1n stressed that the climate challenges are complex, and ESO provides a model for all future campaigns to integrate many approaches to solve big problems.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum directed the next question to Ott: <strong>As the NASA leader of the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/earth.gov\/ghgcenter\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center<\/strong><\/a><strong>, where do you see NASA making contributions?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ott responded that there has been tremendous innovation and advancement in the field of Earth observations over the past several decades \u2013 i.e., during the EOS era.  As Al Gore alluded to in his earlier remarks, increasingly, this innovation comes from the pairing of private sector with the public data from satellites, aircraft campaigns, and ground networks that provide the infrastructure that companies need to test and improve new approaches.<\/p>\n<p>NASA has also played a foundational role in developing the systems approach to studying Earth. For example, half of human-produced emissions (<em>sources<\/em>) of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) are absorbed by vegetation and the ocean (s<em>inks<\/em>). It remains unclear how long this balance will continue, however. NASA aims to bring together different measurements of vegetation, ocean productivity, and gases in the atmosphere and make them readily available to the public. A wholistic approach to climate requires input from multiple satellites to successfully model changes in the concentration GHGs throughout the Earth system. To achieve this goal, the best from the government (e.g., NASA data) needs to merge with private industry to produce consistent long term data records that people can trust.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum agreed that delivering trusted information and providing foundational datasets are core activities for NASA, and used that to segue to the next question, which she addressed to Bolten: <strong>NASA (GSFC) sits at the nexus of satellite observations and modeling. Where do you see progress of Earth Science to Action particularly in area of water quality?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bolten said that the first image of Earth was obtained 78 years ago in 1946. It happened somewhat by chance.\u00a0Soldiers and scientists at White Sands Missile Range strapped a camera to a captured German V2 rocket, and they were fortunate to get a clear image of Earth. Fast forward to today, NASA has a fleet of more than 20 Earth-observing satellites \u2013 see Figure 1 [<em>top<\/em>] \u2013 that provide routine Earth observations.  These data are vital for understanding our home planet, and for decision making. The observations from these satellites can be analyzed and used to inform decisions about Earth.<\/p>\n<p>The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was created the same year as the first Earth image. He noted that ENIAC took up an entire room. Today, his smart phone, which fits in his pocket, is more than 230 million times faster than ENIAC \u2013 driving home the point that technology has advanced beyond what most could imagine. Bolten also noted that 2024 is <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/open-science\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA\u2019s Year of Open Science<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bolten said that his job focuses on food and water insecure areas, which often correlates with areas that lack data infrastructure. There is a vital need to strategically integrate open science and cloud-based services.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe can\u2019t do this [work] in a bubble,\u201d said Bolten. \u201cWe must work together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum elevated a question from an attendee: <strong>There have been various climate change scenarios that have been offered as possibilities. Which one seems most likely to you to be correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ott explained that the worst- or best-case scenarios are usually outliers (i.e., the conditions in the \u201creal world\u201d typically lie somewhere in between the extremes). She commented that we\u2019ve seen a large climate change investment from the Biden Administration. Those kinds of investments will have impact and have the power to change the trajectory for the future. Part of what NASA does is to show the world that the data we collect does make a tangible difference. That gives society reason for hope. The point of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center is to bring together all these GHG observations in one place to analyze them and study them to show that we\u2019re making progress on confronting this challenging issue. The objective is to create tangible evidence that, \u201cwhen we take action, we can change things.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As if to underscore Ott\u2019s point, Gore responded during her presentation that he\u00a0believes that public choice does significantly impact how the future unfolds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we decide has consequences,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Gore is convinced the issue of our changing climate could be addressed if our society made up our collective mind to do it and then committed ourselves to take the decisive action needed to make that decision a reality in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cThe future is really up to us,\u201d said Gore.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The final three questions came from online participants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How can NASA improve its messaging?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bolten replied that this is a question that comes up repeatedly in the context of NASA outreach and communications. In the context of today\u2019s discussion, he suggested the need to produce information that is not just <em>useful <\/em>but also <em>usable<\/em> (i.e., it can be applied in ways that directly benefit society). As an example, he pointed to the use of machine learning to model a flash flooding event in Ellicott City, MD (described in a 2020 article in <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.ametsoc.org\/view\/journals\/hydr\/21\/3\/jhm-d-19-0125.1.xml\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Journal of Hydrometeorology<\/em><\/a>) where waters rose from a normal levels to a devastating flash flood in about seven minutes \u2013 see <strong>Photo 3<\/strong>. Bolten continued that transparency, as well as connecting to people\u2019s motivations, are keys to being more successful with NASA\u2019s messaging.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=480&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=480&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage photo 3\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=480&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=300&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=768&#038;h=256&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=341&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=400&#038;h=133&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=600&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=900&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-photo3.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\"><strong>Photo 3<\/strong>. In May 2018 devastating floodwaters impacted the town of Ellicott City, MD.\u00a0Water levels in the small basin above the down rose from normal levels to flash flooding in seven minutes.\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong>Figure credit<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/psl.noaa.gov\/news\/2020\/050420.html\" rel=\"noopener\">NOAA\u2019s Physical Science Laboratory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What big challenges could NASA turn to an opportunity to address climate change?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rom\u00e1n said that advances in forecasting on seasonal to sub-seasonal scales are key areas of focus for studies of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. He noted that it is important to have observations and understand these observations to model events. For sub-seasonal prediction, we need to understand stratospheric dynamics and the chemistry going on in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMajor fires and volcanic eruptions create massive changes in the atmosphere,\u201d said Rom\u00e1n. \u201cWe can\u2019t see them like we can when we view a Landsat image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One tool that could help us with sub-seasonal forecasting is the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/uw.edu\/strive\" rel=\"noopener\">Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer<\/a> (STRIVE) mission, which is one of four mission proposals for the first <a href=\"https:\/\/explorers.larc.nasa.gov\/2023ESE\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth System Explorer missions<\/a> chosen for initial Phase A study.  This mission aims to examine the interaction between the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere. In particular, STRIVE will make observations of Earth\u2019s <em>limb<\/em> (i.e., a narrow slice of atmosphere), which can help scientists gain insight into aerosol loading. According to Rom\u00e1n, this data will be key to getting an accurate 30-day forecast. He referred to this information as the \u201choly grail\u201d in terms of preparedness and resilience by improving early warnings for extreme weather. Some nations are limited to only using Doppler radar and if it fails, they are essentially blind to what is coming.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum cited NASA\u2019s AOS mission, which will be part of ESO, as another example of an important new measuring capability. This mission will represent the \u201cnext generation\u201d for precipitations and aerosol observations. Scientists can use the data collected to understand how these phenomena interact with each other and with other atmospheric constituents to form storms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAOS will be the baseline while STRIVE would be the bottom line,\u201d concluded Rom\u00e1n.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the path forward to develop capacity for new observations while still maintaining high-quality, long-term time series and making the data accessible to the public?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ott cited the <a href=\"https:\/\/carbonmapper.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Carbon Mapper<\/a> coalition as a current example where such a balance is being achieved\/. Carbon Mapper made its first light images available to the public last week. This mission brings together\u00a0a unique coalition of partners (including NASA\/JPL and Planet, a private company) to develop and deploy two satellites with capabilities to detect and quantify methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>) \u2013 e.g., see <strong>Figure 3<\/strong> \u2013 and\u00a0CO<sub>2<\/sub>\u00a0super-emitters at a level of granularity needed to support direct mitigation action.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=833&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"833\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=833&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Engage figure 3\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=833&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=300&#038;h=174&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=768&#038;h=444&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=592&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=400&#038;h=231&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=600&#038;h=347&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=900&#038;h=521&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/earth-observer\/2025\/2025-winter\/2025-engage\/Engage-figure3.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=694&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\"><strong>Figure 3<\/strong>.\u00a0On December 4, 2024, the Tanager\u20131 satellite detected methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>) plumes streaming downwind from oil and gas facilities in the Permian Basin (in west Texas and southeast New Mexico).\u00a0This is one of more than 300 images of CH<sub>4<\/sub> super-emitters from the oil and gas, coal, waste, and agriculture sectors across 25 countries that were released in February 2025. Tanager\u20131 launched in August 2024 and is the first satellite developed by the Carbon Mapper coalition between Planet (a private company) and NASA\/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other partners.\u00a0Planet owns, launched, and operates the satellite, which is equipped with technology from JPL.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong>Figure credit<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/carbonmapper.org\/articles\/new-tanager-1-methane-data\" rel=\"noopener\">Carbon Mapper<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA\u2019s investments in technology via its <a href=\"https:\/\/esto.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth Science Technology Office<\/a> (ESTO) have enabled new airborne instruments that can be deployed in partnership with industry to demonstrate the quality of present-day satellite technologies and to provide a pathway toward next generation technologies. She stressed that the Federal government continues to play a crucial role in establishing standards and ensuring data integrity and continuity. NASA, for example, invests in ground-based systems and data services that help enable the commercial satellite industry. Long-term continuity of measurements is essential to connect new observations to existing ones. In this way, we can enable the continuing rise of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/s3fs-public\/2023-11\/newspace_nasa.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">NewSpace<\/a>, while still providing foundational integrity and stability of the long-term climate data records that NASA and other Federal agencies maintain. This framework helps tie all the NewSpace endeavors together.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Gore cited an example of a public\u2013private partnership that happened in the past. He commented that in 1998 (the same year that Triana was proposed) he was also involved in proposal for <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Earth\" rel=\"noopener\">Digital Earth<\/a>. The guiding vision behind Digital Earth was to be able to hover over any point and drop down through successively more detailed layers. NASA contracted with a company called Keyhole, which Google acquired in the early 2000s. Gore raised this example to point out that Google Earth is the result of those initial efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Gore also connected this discussion to his work on Climate TRACE, which he had mentioned in his remarks earlier as a current example of public\u2013private partnership. He stated that while we can see CH<sub>4<\/sub> from space, the resolution is relatively low, i.e., a wide area must be scanned to get a CH<sub>4<\/sub> measurement) and higher resolution is required to identify specific (or <em>point) <\/em>sources of CH<sub>4<\/sub>. Climate TRACE offers such higher resolution CH<sub>4 <\/sub>measurements, allowing researchers to focus more on identifying specific sources of pollution. By contrast the atmosphere is so enriched with CO<sub>2 <\/sub>that the <em>signal-to-noise ratio<\/em> is too high to measure the gas from space. For CO<sub>2 <\/sub>analysis, Climate TRACE uses AI to fuse together various images to allow CO<sub>2<\/sub> to be detectable. The resulting measurements are precise enough to detect ripple ponds created by rotating fan blades.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1037\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?w=1037\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black Separator Line\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png 1037w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=300,7 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=768,18 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=1024,24 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=400,9 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=600,14 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eo-blackseparator-line.png?resize=900,21 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1037px) 100vw, 1037px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Closing Remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dalia<\/strong> <strong>Kirschbaum<\/strong> closed the meeting by thanking the guest of honor, Al Gore, once again for coming to the GSFC event. Gore not only spoke but was an active participant who demonstrated his knowledge of this subject area gained from years of experience working on climate issues.\u00a0She quipped that \u201che\u2019s the only former Vice President ever to use the Term <em>signal-to-noise ratio<\/em> correctly when talking to scientists.\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Kirschbaum also thanked everyone who participated in this event \u2013 including the over 800 online participants. While the discussions today offered numerous glimpses into the future of Earth remote-sensing observations, this information barely scratches the surface of all the work being carried out by scientists and engineers at NASA to make these plans a reality. She thanked all of those who work at NASA \u2013 who often put in long hours, quietly, behind the scenes without much recognition \u2013 for the work they do daily to enable NASA\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Alan B. Ward<\/em><\/strong><br \/><strong><em>NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center\/Global Science &#038; Technology Inc.<\/em><\/strong><br \/><strong><em><a href=\"mailto:alan.b.ward@nasa.gov\">alan.b.ward@nasa.gov<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon 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desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Mar 11, 2025<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth Science<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction On October 16, 2024, a special session of the NASA Goddard Engage series took place in the Goett Auditorium (Building 3) at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The Engage series is intended to explain work at GSFC in an immersive and nontechnical setting. GSFC\u2019s Office of Communications, Earth Sciences Division, and Scientific Colloquium [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15600],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-earth-science"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=185158"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":185159,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185158\/revisions\/185159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=185158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=185158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=185158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}