Earth's Vital Signs

NASA,  one of the worlds most famous scientific organisation is most often cited for their study of extraterrestrial objects, for landing men on the moon and sending probes out into the solar system. Part of their research however concerns a planet far closer to home. In fact, it is home. From their satellites NASA collects data on the dynamic processes that govern planet earth. 

NASA's Global Climate Change Website,
Winner of theBest Science Site at the 2011 Webby Awards    

NASA's Climate Change Website, winner of Best Science Site at the 2011 Webby Awards  presents engaging and informative insight into the earth's changing climate. Most important in my eyes are the statistics presented in the header, informing us that todays CO2 concentrations are 391ppm, the current rate of sea level rise is 3.27mm/year, and that temperature has risen so far 1.5F since 1800. For more vital statistics visit the key indicators page, showing graphs of surface temperature, CO2 concentration, Land ice and Sea level. 

Such data is not only valuable to inform ones own understanding of the rate of change caused by anthropogenic carbon emissions, but also serves handy when debating 'skeptics' and 'deniers.' Surely they can not refute the findings of NASA, the scientific organisation that put a man on the moon. Sadly however no amount of science from a credible source is equal to one graph from an non-credible source that validates the belief that climate change is a communist plot. Sadly it seems the only graphs the deniers will accept are those that have been turned upside down. 

Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index

Check it out here! Just dont try showing it to Alan Jones.