Protecting the Environment
The Space contribution to Earth Stewardship and Sustainable Development
Our planet provides a safe haven for the myriads of lifeforms which have
evolved on its surface, oceans and atmosphere over billions of years. With
the advent of spaceflight, humans have witnessed the beauty and frailty of
our world against the stark blackness of space. Satellites give us an
unprecedented chance to study the Earth system. Observations from the unique vantage point
of space provide clues to the history of the planet, revealing the
importance of cosmic impacts in the history of the planet. Satellites
allow us to observe natural and man-made global changes and to assess the
impacts of human activities in the long term. Satellites also provide the hard evidence to
enforce environmental legislation and provide a powerful tool to communicate environmental
issues in a manner that is understandable to non-specialists.
South Africa's natural environment is one of our
national resources, providing pleasure as well as profits for our people.
Satellite images in the optical, infra-red and radar wavelengths offer a
wealth of information to policy-makers, scientists and the general public.
Satellites are used to study land cover changes and land use patterns. They
allow monitoring of natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, fires and
volcanic erruptions and other environmental hotspots undergoing rapid
change. Satellites provide the tools to detect and monitor pollution (such
as oil spills and smog) and the environmental effects of human conflict.
Satellites are routinely used to enforce environmental protection
legislation pertaining to industrial emissions or illegal fishing. The
global coverage and long-term monitoring capabilities of satellites allow
them to be used to study global climate change and effects of human
activity, such as ozone depletion, or the loss of wetlands.
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