Earth from Above provides an easy
introduction to understanding and interpreting satellite images, using
illustrative examples to instruct on the fantastically informative new global
data sets. Beginning with two short chapters on visible satellite images and
radiation, the book then covers six key Earth-atmosphere variables on such
environmentally important topics as the Antarctic ozone hole, El Nino,
deforestation, the missing carbon dilemma, and the effects of sea ice, snow
cover, and volcanoes on atmospheric temperatures. A final chapter broadens the
discussion to consider satellite Earth observations in general.


The book is heavily illustrated, including
photographs, maps, schematic diagrams, and 50 color-coded satellite images. Each
section concludes with a list of questions encouraging the reader to review the
text and, in the case of sections with satellite image, to examine the images
and find answers from them. Answers to all questions are provided at the back of
the book.