On the Role of Science in Preparing Operational Uses of Earth Observations From Space

Abstract

An overview of the strategy and policies of research to face the problems of global change including climate and environmental alterations at all scales from global, to regional and local, is given with particular emphasis on the role of Earth observation from satellites as the major source of information in the coming decades.

The objective is to encourage scientists to direct their research keeping in mind the ongoing international large scale programs and experiments having for objective a better knowledge of the anthropogenic modifications and natural variabilities of the system Earth.

The role of European countries and space agencies in this subject is discussed.