iBooks

Understanding Earth: The Icy Arctic
Icy Arctic Final_508.pdf, Understanding Earth_The Icy Arctic.ibooks

Over the last decade, satellite data—often combined with data from other sources—have revealed that the Arctic is changing at rates faster than anywhere else on Earth. These changes are interrelated and have both long- and short-term effects on Earth’s land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere, ultimately impacting the Earth’s climate system. To better understand the Arctic environment, scientists at NASA are working in collaboration with various experts from other federal agencies, universities, private companies, and not-for-profit organizations. This booklet—the third in the Understanding Earth series—explains how NASA keeps a close eye on the Arctic and how the changes taking place there are affecting you.

Understanding Earth: Biomass Burning
BiomassBurn_final_508.pdf, Understanding Earth_Biomass Burning.ibooks

When biomass is burned, copious amounts of gases and particulate matter are released, billowing smoke plumes can fill the sky, and entire ecosystems can change in seconds. Fortunately, NASA’s Earth-observing satellites are able to monitor these changes, critical for understanding the effects biomass burning has on Earth’s atmosphere and climate system. This booklet—second in the Understanding Earth series—explains the causes and effects of biomass burning. You’ll learn about the wildfires that burned across western Russia in 2010, the 2011 Wallow Fire in Arizona that burned for nearly 984 hours, NASA’s ARCTAS mission, and more. “Understanding Earth: Biomass Burning” offers a variety of images and shows how NASA satellites provide a unique vantage point to observe and study these events.

Aquarius/SAC-D
Aquarius_Mission_Brochure.pdf, Aquarius_SAC-D_Sea Surface Salinity from Space.ibooks

Changes in sea surface salinity have large-scale effects on Earth’s water cycle and ocean circulation. Before now, scientists had studied these changes using measurements collected by ships and buoys out at sea. Fortunately, for the first time ever, NASA’s Aquarius/SAC-D satellite will provide space-based, global sea surface salinity measurements. Surface salinity data from Aquarius/SAC-D will give scientist a key to better understanding how ocean circulation is tied to global climate.

Understanding Earth: The Journey of Dust
TheJourneyofDust_508.pdf, Understand Earth_The Journey of Dust.ibooks

In April 2001, the “Perfect Dust Storm” struck when wind whipped dust from deserts in Mongolia and China over Eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Sensors aboard NASA Earth observing satellites tracked the movement and density of the aerosols as the cloud traveled eastward for more than two weeks. The booklet, “Understanding Earth: The Journey of Dust,” explains the causes of the 2001 storm, the effects of dust storms on society and climate, and possible ways to minimize their frequency. With satellite imagery, “The Journey of Dust” shows how NASA satellites provide a unique vantage point to observe and study these large-scale events.