Earth Day Highlights Year-Round Eco-Friendly Activities

From space, to land, to Earth, Americans work to improve the environment

In parks, wetlands and forests, Americans will volunteer on Earth Day to pick-up trash, pull invasive weeds and perform a myriad of other tasks to help protect and improve the environment.

These activities are organized in a festive and celebratory way, but represent only a fraction of the work done day after day to protect the environment.

The 36-year history of Earth Day is marked by the steady advance of policies reflecting greater awareness and consideration of how human activities affect the planet's delicate ecological balance. But policies must be based in knowledge, and that is the contribution NASA makes to environmental science.

In every hour of every day, NASA is collecting enormous amounts of satellite data that reveal important information about the Earth and the atmosphere. Scientists, public officials, teachers and students all use these data to further the world's understanding of the planet's complex systems. Ecological and weather forecasting, response to natural disasters, air and water quality management, coastal management and agricultural forecasting all rely on analysis of NASA data.

For example, NASA radar data focused on an oil freighter that ran aground in the Bering Sea, helping the U.S. Coast Guard monitor the broken pieces of the ship and its seeping oil. And rainfall data gathered by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland help a U.S.-Africa partnership better understand the prospects for famine.

SOYBEAN POWER

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is trying to reduce the environmental impact of the ships it uses to research the waters of the Great Lakes. NOAA successfully is operating a petroleum-free vessel by using soybean power to run the research vessel Huron.

"NOAA has a commitment to stewardship of the environment, and this research vessel, the R/V Huron Explorer, demonstrates that commitment in very practical ways," said Stephen B. Brandt, NOAA acting deputy assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. "Environmentally friendly vessels are better suited to tread lightly on the ecosystems they help research."

The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program recognized NOAA this Earth Day week for its transition to alternative fuels.

Two other NOAA ships that sail the Great Lakes partially are fueled by biologically based fuels.

THE YOUNGEST ENVIRONMENTALISTS

President Bush welcomed some of the nation's youngest environmentalists to the White House April 20 to receive the 2005 President's Environmental Youth Awards. Forty-nine young people involved in 10 projects around the country were celebrated for their innovative ideas and activities to protect their environment through community involvement.

The Creek Freaks from Augusta, Georgia, won an award for its work conducting biological monitoring in local waters as one step toward preservation of wetlands. The Creek Freaks say, "We have cleaned up trash-polluted creeks, planted trees to prevent bank erosion, established habitats for research, and educated others in our effort to protect the environment."

Other student groups worked to protect creeks from polluted urban run-off and promote education and action about sustainable living. (See related article.)

KIDS AND PARKS

Stirring environmental consciousness and a love of the outdoors is a recurring Earth Day theme, one that the National Park Service (NPS) has adopted as it celebrates National Park Week April 22-30.

"This year's theme, 'Connecting our Children to America's National Parks,' reflects the National Park Service's commitment to encouraging young people to enjoy outdoor recreation and better appreciate our Nation's beauty and history," says a NPS press release.

President Bush issued a proclamation declaring National Park Week and urging all Americans to celebrate the parks and become active in park conservation. See "President Issues National Park Week Proclamation" on the National Park Service Web site.

More information on NASA Earth System Science and Data Services is available on the NASA Web site.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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