Biospherics Research 



Geosphere-Biosphere (NAS, 1986). Representative goals from Earth System Science 

 include the following: 



— 'To obtain a scientific understanding of the entire Earth system on a global 

 scale by describing how its component parts and interactions have evolved, 

 how they function, and how they may be expected to continue to evolve 

 on all time scales." 



— 'To develop the capability to predict those changes that will occur in the 

 next decade to century, both naturally and in response to human activity." 



• International cooperation on global research may be facilitated through the 

 International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, which was endorsed by the 

 International Council of Scientific Unions. An active commitment to the 

 research strategies of the IGBP would encourage acceptance of the program 

 and would also allow NASA to shape the final form of this program. 



Recommendation 



• The Biospherics Research Program should participate in the research goals 

 and challenges outlined in Earth System Science: A Closer Vieiv and Global 

 Change in the Geosphere-Biosphere. 



Finding 



• NASA does not now operate a permanently orbiting biospherics-type sensor 

 platform, nor are there plans for such a platform until the EOS is deployed in 

 the mid to late 1990's. Investigators in the Biospherics Research Program are 

 thus confronted with high data costs and prospects for severe difficulty in 

 acquiring near-term remote-sensing data. 



Recommendation 



• NASA should pursue all viable alternatives, including the following, to 

 bridge the gap in new, remote-sensing data acquisition prior to the advent of 

 EOS: 



— Continue to support an aircraft-based remote-sensing program, which is 

 also an important proving ground for experimental sensors. 



— Consider the possibilities offered by orbital missions of opportunity, 

 which could include a tropical-areas instrument mounted aboard NASA's 

 low inclination orbiting manned Space Station and remote-sensing 

 devices aboard the Shuttle or on polar-orbiting free-fliers. 



— Cooperate with other agencies and organizations where appropriate to 

 design and build satellite sensors and platforms, aid in construction of 

 ground stations at strategic locations for capture of non-NASA data, 



and /or provide block-grant purchase of data from commercial vendors or 

 from national and international organizations. 



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