Ecological Forecasting - Our goal is reliable forecasts of changes in living systems with uncertainties and estimates of error explicitly stated. These models must span spatial scales from molecular to global, as well as take advantage of information across time scales to hone and test the accuracy of our predictions. Ecological forecasting requires a grand scientific synthesis across the domains of physics, geology, chemistry, biology, and psychology. There will no doubt be limits to what we can forecast, but discovering these limits and their causes will only enhance our overall understanding of the ecosystems we hope to manage and preserve. The decision support systems engendered will be vital to efforts to build our economies while at the same time sustaining the natural ecosystems that provide us with the essential services we tend to take for granted such as: clean air, fresh water, fertile soils, waste removal, and biodiversity. NASA is currently involved in several international and domestic partnerships under the theme of ecological forecasting.
(Added: 5-May-2003 Hits: 453)
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Energy Forecasting - The commercial and residential demand for energy and energy availability is affected by natural and human influences. Human influences that can effect demand are growth in urban areas creating changes in land pattern surfaces from pervious to impervious, natural green areas to heat islands create micro-climates. Population concentrations increase localized gas emissions (COx, SOx, NOx) that impact local air quality and contribute to the overall green house effect. Natural influences that can effect demand are normal seasonal weather patterns, abnormal periods of excessively hot or cold temperature within a normal seasonal pattern, and inter-annual climate variations. The Earth’s oceans are believed to be the primary driver of weather and climate variations. The ability to accurately predict risk and vulnerability to both natural and human influences on energy demand will improve decision making in energy use and conservation planning, trading and transmission infrastructure building and the use of renewable and non-renewable resources needed to generate energy. Development of decision support systems for energy forecasting will impact government and industrial organizations at all levels. This application will draw upon and affect climate change, carbon management, air and water quality and public health.
[keywords: micro-climates](Added: 5-May-2003 Hits: 453)
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Global Hydrology and Climate Center - The Global Hydrology and Climate Center is a joint venture between government and academia to study the global water cycle and its effect on climate.
[keywords: MSFC, GHCC, climat echange, regional, assessement, Southeastern U.S.](Added: 22-Jun-1999 Hits: 1272)
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NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center - The Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center, located at the NASA Langley Research Center in
Hampton, Virginia, is responsible for the processing, archival and distribution of NASA Earth science
data in the areas of radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and tropospheric chemistry. The Langley
Data Center was established in 1991 to support the Earth Observing System (EOS) as part of NASA's
Earth Science enterprise and the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and is one of several
Distributed Active Archive Centers sponsored by NASA as part of the Earth Observing System Data and
Information System (EOSDIS).
[keywords: NASA Langley, DAAC](Added: 22-Jun-1999 Hits: 1037)
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