Satellites and Deforestation

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that satellite imagery has affected the deforestation of the Amazon by detecting problems such as road building, mining operations, fires where land is being cleared for crops, logging operations, dam projects and clearing for building projects. The results of these satellite images also indicate rising heat indexes, less forest and damage to the ecological system that exists in the Amazon. The paper reveals how satellites determine data and offers general information about the technology.

Outline:
How Satellites Determine Data
What Satellite Imagery Tells Scientists About the Amazon
How Satellite Imagery Affects the Rainforest
The Types of Satellites Used and General Information About the Technology

From the Paper:

"The amount of water or ice particles in the air can be measured by a satellite sensor and this determines part of the information that will tell what is going on, back on earth. Together with satellite visual imagery, the information can give a scientist an amazing amount of information. An article in Satellite Data Applications: Weather and Climate talks about how satellites may measure the physically based parameterization of cloud processes and cloud water. (Weng 407) These measurements are used in a SSMI/Cloud Liquid Water algorithm to find out how the clouds are affected by the thermal emission. (Earth 2005)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Asner, G.P., Townsend, A.R. and Brasswell, B.H. "Satellite observation of El Nino effects on Amazon forest phenomenology and productivity" American Geophysical Union. 1974. <http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1323649>
• DeFries, Ruth. "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," Earth Observatory News, September 14, 2006. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2006/2006091923131.html>
• "Earth Observatory." NASA News Archive, September 13, 2005. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2005/2005091320344.html>
• EUMETSAT Services Overview, 2006. Website found at http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Access_to_Data/index.htm?l=en>
• Kidder, Stanley Q. and Vonder Haar, Thomas H. Satellite Meteorology: An Introduction. San Diego: Academic Press. 1995

More papers on Satellites and Deforestation:

• Cause and Effect Essay # 116807 : "Soil Degradation and Deforestation"
• Research Paper # 28029 : "Former Soviet Satellites and the European Union"
• Essay # 23111 : "Endangered Species from Deforestation"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: