NASA--Space Technology's Role in Understanding Climate Change

Whether you hold the title of Sustainability Officer or you are in charge of the green team under the auspices of “other duties as required”, you need to know something about climate change and those responsible for advancing our knowledge about strategies for mitigating and adapting to its effects.  There is an abundance of really good websites, and some of them are listed for you on our Resources pages.  One of my favorites is NASA.  I can get lost for hours at NASA’s comprehensive site.  So here’s a short guide to a few of the topical pages where you’ll find information about not only climate change, but what NASA and space exploration have learned to increase energy efficiency and benefit our environment back home on planet Earth.

http://climate.nasa.gov/   

Your gateway to data and news about NASA’s contribution to climate science. In 1984, Congress revised the Space Act, broadening NASA’s Earth science authority from the stratosphere to “the expansion of human knowledge of the Earth.” Simply put, NASA’s satellite and shuttle observations provide valuable data about the earth such as changes in sea levels, ice sheets, ozone in the atmosphere, and weather patterns, to name just a few.  The home page includes links to indicators, evidence, causes, effects, and uncertainties of climate change. 

NASA’s recommended list of key websites for more information about other federal and international agencies studying climate change.

View changes to sea ice, sea levels, temperature, and carbon emissions over time. 

NASA posts the latest news and images about Earth’s changing conditions and NASA studies.

This is an interactive display of how NASA and space impact our lives at home and in our cities.  Great learning tool for adults and kids. For example, it was NASA technology that was used to power high-altitude aircraft that evolved into the most advanced solar cells available.  The technology that carried Neil Armstrong’s words from the moon to NASA Control inspired the airline industry to develop mobile headsets for its pilots, which since have expanded to all forms of communications equipment.  The next time you put on your headphone or see a solar panel on a rooftop, think of NASA.  And that’s just for starters.

I can’t do justice to NASA’s website and the treasure of material to be found on it.  And any blog about NASA isn’t complete without a salute to the astronauts and team of scientists who we have to thank for so many advances in knowledge and technology, because we are the beneficiaries.