View Spread
Far-Out Guide to Earth
Earth is the only planet in our solar system that is suitable for life. It has liquid water, oxygen, and enough gravity to hold its own atmosphere, but do your readers know that Earth is always changing? Scientists have used spacecraft and satellites to learn more about our planet. They can better predict natural disasters like hurricanes, and monitor volcano eruptions and climate changes. Readers will learn lots of far-out facts about our home planet.
* Reviews *
Ever-changing Earth—our terrestrial home and host to an amazing variety of life—is one of the planets explored in this Far-Out Guide to the Solar System series, offering a multitude of facts to report-writers, focusing on what astronomers know and the many perplexing questions still to be answered. Young researchers will learn that Earth consists of a system of spheres: the atmosphere (air), the liquid hydrosphere, the lithosphere (rock, soil), and the biosphere of living things. Scientists are now focusing on major changes taking place on Earth. Operating since 1972, a Landsat group of satellites, collecting images of weather and disasters, has revealed shrinking forests, melting ice, expanding deserts, and changing coastlines. In one of the boxed Far-Out Facts scattered through the text, readers discover that a new Landsat 8 is being developed to scan Earth much more quickly. Three pages of Fast Facts add Earth information, while Carson states definitively that pollution by humans is causing global warming. An Earth Timeline of Exploration and Discovery introduces a section about space missions that have helped scientists learn vital facts. In 1999, satellite Terra began studying global climate change; ICEsat confirmed in 2003 that global warming is causing polar ice sheets to melt. A set of five A-Train satellites coordinates measurements to help plan for the future. Illustrations are color photos and computer-generated images—one especially dramatic picture shows a huge ozone hole over Antarctica. What is next for Earth? More satellites are being planned: Aquarius (to measure sea salinity) was launched in 2011 [updated information] and Global Precipitation Measurement is scheduled for 2013. Included are a glossary and a list of books and websites about planet Earth, Earth explorations, and the solar system., Children's Literature
RL
Grades
4-6 IL
Grades
4-10 GRL
M
