Description
Addressing our changing climate is a complex and multi-dimensional issue facing the global population. Climate data records provide evidence of climate change through changes in key indicators such as global land and ocean temperature, sea levels, polar and glacial ice extent; frequency and severity of extreme weather such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation; and cloud and vegetation cover. This information coupled with theoretical models and scenarios of future emissions form a fundamental basis for climate mitigation, adaptation, and risk management planning in all parts of the world and across many elements of society and ecosystems.
This four-hour workshop, hosted by NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) Program, provided an overview of NASA resources for monitoring climate change and its impacts on various sectors such as extreme weather, water, food, and health. We define the terminology and the role of Earth observations in climate change assessment and provide an overview of NASA climate models suitable for emissions policy, impacts, risk, and resilience applications.
The workshop provided hands-on examples using open source tools to visualize and access information and data relevant to understanding and planning for climate change. The workshop also previewed NASA’s Earth System Observatory, a set of Earth-focused missions to provide key information to guide efforts related to climate change, disaster mitigation, wildfires, and improve real-time agricultural processes.