This event took place on 21st January 2011
Berrill Lecture Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall Campus, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
The Earth is the most closely and carefully studied planet; apart from the observations made at and near its surface, there are today over a hundred active satellite platforms, carrying more than three hundred separate instruments, continuously observing the Earth - studying the processes which occur on land, on the oceans and in the atmosphere and monitoring the changes in our environment which result from them. The wealth of information gained from this “terrestrial tomography” only serves to raise yet further questions regarding the nature of the Earth system, the interactions between its various elements and, inevitably, the question of humanity’s interfaces with it. For the Earth is not only a source of scientific fascination and intellectual challenges equal to those found anywhere in our ken, but it is also the planet on which we all live; as a result the research questions which we seek to address have particularly profound significance for us all.
While including some discussion of the development of spacecraft systems, mainly of the European Space Agency, the seminar will focus on the scientific understanding of the Earth which has been derived from satellite observations and on the implications for our relationship with our home planet.
The Earth is the most closely and carefully studied planet; apart from the observations made at and near its surface, there are today over a hundred active satellite platforms, carrying more than three hundred separate instruments, continuously observing the Earth - studying the processes which occur on land, on the oceans and in the atmosphere and monitoring the changes in our environment which result from them. The wealth of information gained from this “terrestrial tomography” only serves to raise yet further questions regarding the nature of the Earth system, the interactions between its various elements and, inevitably, the question of humanity’s interfaces with it. For the Earth is not only a source of scientific fascination and intellectual challenges equal to those found anywhere in our ken, but it is also the planet on which we all live; as a result the research questions which we seek to address have particularly profound significance for us all.
Click below to play the event (62 minutes)