The most comprehensive earth observation programme every undertaken has been launched by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The £400-million Living Planet research project embraces a series of space missions that will investigate the earth's environment by measuring physical, chemical and biological processes at work in the earth's atmosphere, oceans and land surfaces.
A UK study of the possible effects of global warming on the polar ice caps will be the first project launched under the aegis of Living Planet.
The CRYOSAT mission, brainchild of Professor Duncan Wingham of University College, London, was chosen as the first mission out of 27 schemes from across Europe. Scheduled for launch in 2002, it will measure fluctuations in the earth's land and marine ice fields. Understanding these fluctuations is essential to the prediction of future climate and sea level changes, since the polar regions are where the greatest changes due to global warming are predicted to occur.
Lord Sainsbury, chairman of ESA's Ministerial Council and UK Minister for Science, says: "The earth is our own special 'Living Planet' and we must be concerned to manage it in such a way that it continues to support life on it. Space technology is a key means of providing such information.
"The importance of being able to obtain global information as we move to the next millennium must not be under-estimated. An ever-increasing world population and pressure for development will place more demands on our planet and it will become increasingly vital for nations to understand environmental and climate changes.
"The space missions will play a key role in helping European governments to manage and improve the earth's fragile environment."
Source: Flight Daily News
