Remote Sensing of the Biosphere

Abstract

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Remote Sensing of the Biosphere http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12344.html CONTENTS 1. Summary and Scientic Objectives 1 Introduction, 1 The Role of NASA, 2 Goals and Objectives, 3 An Initial Program, 13 Some Specic Examples, 15 2. Introduction to Planetary Biology 22 Why Study the Biosphere? Basic Principles of Global Ecology, 23 The Nature of Large-Scale Biological Systems and the Influence on the Earth, 24 How Life Affects the Environment, 25 Life as a Hierarchical Phenomenon, 27 Ecological Stability in Ecological Systems, 28 Critical Species, 29 The Spatial Distribution of Ecological Processes, 30 Biogeochemical Cycles, 33 Research Needs, 39 3. Perspectives on the Biosphere 42 Historical Perspectives, 42 Theory and Global Biology, 50 4. Terrestrial Biosphere Studies 55 Introduction, 55 Energy Budget and Vegetation, 58 Remote Sensing of Areal Extent of Biomes, 60 Measurement of Net Primary Production, 62 Climatic Inuences on Net Primary Production, 72 xiRemote Sensing of the Biosphere http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12344.html Special Roles of Microbes in Terrestrial Biogeochemical Cycling, 74 5. Aquatic Ecosystems and the Biosphere Introduction, 80 Oceans, 80 Estuaries and Marshes, 84 Lakes, 86 Measurement Requirements, 87 6. Remote Sensing Requirements Introduction, 93 Remote Sensing of Environmental Information, 93 A Brief History of the Remote Sensing of Land Vegetation, 97 Perspectives on the Future, 103 7. Data Management Requirements Introduction, 107 Sensor Data Acquisition, 109 Space Data Processing, 110 Space Data Handling, 111 Computers (Ground-based), 111 Data Storage, 113 Data Base and Information Systems, 113 Data Base Management, 114 Communications Networks and Distributed Processing, 115 Interactive Processing, 116 Software, 116 Appendixes A. Remote Sensing Systems