Editor's Summary
6 December 2007
Earth monitoring
Nearly fifty years ago —things were up and running by March 1958 — Charles Keeling and colleagues began a series of measurements of atmospheric CO2 on Mauna Loa in Hawaii. The results, made graphic in the jagged 'Keeling curve' running across this week's cover, made the world take notice — eventually. The Mauna Loa measurements constitute the longest continuous record of atmospheric CO2 in the world. The steady rise in CO2 that they record now forms the accepted backdrop to today's climate science and economic and political decision making. As well as being an important resource in itself, the Mauna Loa record highlights the vital importance of Earth monitoring programmes. The fiftieth anniversary of the start of this work is marked in this issue by News Features and other pieces on the Earth monitoring being done today, historical pieces on the Mauna Loa data and more.
Editorial: Patching together a world view
Data sets encapsulating the behaviour of the Earth system are one of the greatest technological achievements of our age — and one of the most deserving of future investment.
doi:10.1038/450761a
News Features: Earth Monitoring: The planetary panopticon
Technology will soon allow the world to be mapped in near-real time and at high resolution. Declan Butler investigates the potential for operational monitoring of the planet.
doi:10.1038/450778a
News Features: Earth Monitoring: Observing the ocean from within
doi:10.1038/450780a
News Features: Earth Observation: Not enough eyes on the prize
The capacity of the United States to monitor Earth's vital signs is being stymied by tight budgets and poor coordination. Alexandra Witze reports.
doi:10.1038/450782a
News Features: Earth Monitoring: The crucial measurement
doi:10.1038/450785a
Commentary: Earth monitoring: Cinderella science
On-the-ground monitoring is unglamorous work, seldom rewarded by funding agencies or the science community. But we neglect it at our peril, warns Euan Nisbet.
doi:10.1038/450789a
Books and Arts: Earth observation: A fresh perspective
doi:10.1038/450795b
Essay: Earth Monitoring: Whole Earth comes into focus
To understand how our planet uses energy, we must integrate genetic data from microbial studies with satellite views of our planet.
doi:10.1038/450797a