Our Changing Planet: The View from Space

For over 40 years, satellites have been orbiting the Earth quietly monitoring the state of our planet. Unseen by most of us, they are providing information on the many changes taking place, from movements in the land and volcanic eruptions, to human-caused changes such as the growth of cities, deforestation and the spread of pollutants in the atmosphere and oceans. Led by four editors with support from a production team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, many of the world's top remote sensing scientists showcase some spectacular and beautiful satellite imagery along with informed essays on the science behind these images and the implications of what is shown. This is a stunningly attractive and informative book for anyone interested in environmental issues and the beauty of our home planet, providing inspiration for students, teachers, environmentalists and the general public alike.

'... an awe-inspiring collection of images of the Earth from space. This wonderful volume provides a masterful association of imagery and explanation. You will have difficulty closing it once opened. I give it my highest recommendation.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Internationally renowned explorer and adventurer

'Our understanding of the world radically changed when we first saw it from space. It became at once precious yet vulnerable, romantic yet realistic ... As tiny ephemeral creatures on the surface, we can also see the alarming effects our activities are having, whether on the land, in the seas or in the atmosphere ... an excellent guide to greater understanding of the fundamental issues of our time.' Sir Crispin Tickell, Director of the Policy Foresight Programme at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilization at Oxford University, former British Ambassador to the United Nations, former President of the Royal Geographical Society

'Great, readable book with spectacular space views of how our home planet is changing - the land, atmosphere, oceans and ice.' James Hansen, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

'Even though the book looks like, and can serve as, a coffee table item, it is much more: it is a window into understanding the Earth from space.' EOS

'... nothing helps us think more about the globe than the wonder of viewing the whole and all its changeable parts from space. This book tells us what is happening to our world in graphic detail and it is truly an eye opener.' William Ruckelshaus, First Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency

'... the emphasis is on change, and here the images of shrinking glaciers are particularly impressive ...This volume illustrates ...how much can be learned from integrated views of large areas, up to the planetary dimension.' Walter Munk, Professor Emeritus at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

'... extremely well illustrated...breathtaking satellite images and Space Shuttle images alongside very well drawn graphics that can be used nicely for teaching purposes in undergraduate classes. ...a very fine compilation of System Earth through the eyes and experience of remote sensing experts - beautifully made and a pleasure to read.' Environmental Geology

'The book provides a compilation of stunning images that will appeal to the human and the aesthetic in each of us, as the world is a staggeringly beautiful place at almost every scale we choose to observe ... the planet is truly beautiful - small, precious, intricate, detailed and complex.... the book is equivalent to a medical report on the health of the Earth.' From the Foreword and Epilogue by astronaut Piers Sellers

'Our Changing Planet expresses a vision the Earth System Science community has pursued for a generation. By observing the earth from space as completely as science knows how, we would document the state of our planet in the midst of the tremendous changes wrought by our burgeoning global society. We hoped our work would be a landmark; the beauty revealed here goes beyond our dreams.' Charles F., Kennel, Former Associate Administrator at NASA for Mission to Planet Earth, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Vice Chancellor of Marine Sciences at the University of California, San Diego

'One book that capably captures the Big Changes is 'Our Changing Planet: The View From Space' ... This is a thoughtful survey, full of stunning photos – both satellite and earthbound – and illuminating charts and graphs. The editors have done a splendid job of organizing a daunting array of material into a genuinely engaging, sobering and informative work that will appeal to even the most science-challenged reader.' L. K. Hanson, Minneapolis Star Tribune