Access

Correspondence

Nature 451, 887 (21 February 2008) | doi:10.1038/451887c; Published online 20 February 2008

Albedo-watching satellite needed to monitor change

Francisco P. J. Valero1 & Robert J. Charlson2

  1. Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0242, La Jolla, California 92093-0242, USA
  2. Departments of Atmospheric Sciences and Chemistry, University of Washington, Box 351640, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA

Stewart Brand's Essay 'Whole Earth comes into focus' (Nature 450, 797; 2007) makes a strong case for continuous satellite observations of the "whole Earth". A key reason is that existing observations are inadequate to monitor changes in global albedo — the amount of sunlight reflected by Earth and a key determinant of Earth's climate.

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.