how important are research and monitoring techniques in the identification of changes to the global water and carbon cycles?

Question 1

climate change

Answer 1

given than climate change has potentially damaging impacts there is an increased need to accurately monitor changes in the global air temps, sea surface temps, ice thickness and rates of deforestation

Question 2

method

Answer 2

ground based monitoring of environmental change at the global scale is impractical so satellite technology and remote sensing are used

Question 3

satellites

Answer 3

there is continuous monitoring by satellites on a day to day month to month and year to year basis which allows changes to be observed at various time scales

Question 4

GIS

Answer 4

using geographic information systems techniques allows the data to be mapped and analysed to show trends and anomalies and regions of greatest changes

Question 5

eg measuring Arctic Sea Ice

Answer 5

NASAs Earth Observatory Systems satellites have monitored sea ice growth and retreat since 1978
measures microwave energy radiated from the earths surface
comparison of time series images to show changes

Question 6

eg MODIS

Answer 6

owned by NASA launched in 1999
moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer is a key instrument on board the Terra and Aqua satellites
terras orbit is timed to pass from N-S across the equator in the morning and Aqua passes S-N over the equator in the afternoon
measure the % of the planets surface that is covered by clouds almost everyday –> helps scientists determine the impact of clouds and aerosols on the Earths energy budget and measures properties of clouds

Question 7

eg GEDI

Answer 7

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation- high resolution laser ranging of Earths forest topography from the international space station (ISS)