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The Earth Observer: Mar - Apr, 2003

Volume 15, Issue 2

In This Issue

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  • Editor's CornerFront Cover
  • Meeting/Workshop Summaries
  • CERES Data Products Workshop3
  • Other Items of Interest
  • Website for Status and Access to EOS Data3
  • Escape from the Amazon8
  • From Space to the Outback14
  • Kudos19
  • Hurricane Winds Carried Ocean Salt and Plankton Far Inland20
  • Regular Features
  • EOS Scientists in the News21
  • Science Calendars23
  • The Earth Observer Information/InquiriesBack cover

Editor's Corner

Michael King, EOS Senior Project Scientist

Following up on my last report of successful launches for the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), and the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE), I’m happy to announce that both missions were successfully placed in orbit and have begun to acquire initial data. The Geoscience Laser Altimetry System (GLAS) on ICESat is the first mission of its kind to accurately measure ice sheet mass balance, cloud and aerosol heights, as well as land topography and vegetation characteristics. The SORCE mission will provide important measurements of incoming x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and total solar radiation to address longterm climate change, natural variability and enhanced climate prediction.

The first steps in activating the GLAS instrument on ICESat were taken on February 20. In a satellite pass over Norway, the laser firing commenced and firing was...

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