Innovations in satellite, telescope and spacecraft technology are not only essential to space exploration, but are also helping to better monitor and mitigate climate change on Earth.
This year, World Space Week, celebrated globally from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10, is centered on how space technology has proactively enhanced our understanding and management of Earth's climate. For example, numerous Earth-observation satellites closely monitor greenhouse gas emissions and other climate indicators, such as extreme weather, deforestation, drought, sea level changes and coastal degradation. This data allows climate scientists to respond more effectively to natural crises. But there are many less obvious examples of the crossover between space science and climate science.
