NASA map Earths forests in 3D

The United States’ space agency, NASA, is developing the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar device to map forests on Earth in 3D and increase understanding of their role in the carbon cycle.

The instrument will be the first to systematically probe the depths of the forests from space. "GEDI Lidar will have a tremendous impact on our ability to monitor forest degradation, adding to the critical data needed to mitigate the effects of climate change," said Patrick O'Shea, chief research officer at the University of Maryland. It is a laser-based system that can measure the distance from the space-based instrument to Earth's surface with enough accuracy to detect subtle variations, including the tops of trees, the ground, and the vertical distribution of above ground bio-mass in forests, Wired.com reported.

The instrument will be built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, a NASA release said. "GEDI will be a tremendous new resource for studying Earth's vegetation," said Piers Sellers, deputy director of Goddard's Sciences and Exploration Directorate. In particular, the GEDI data will provide global-scale insights into how much carbon is being stored in the forest bio-mass. NASA said GEDI is scheduled to be ready in 2018.

Initial Phase of Sixth Mass Extinction of Animals on Earth

Previous mass extinctions had happened because of an asteroid impact or an ice age, however this time human beings are playing a predominant role in the decline of animals.

Researchers have revealed that that earth is cruising towards its sixth mass extinction of various animals. The mass extinction is in its early days, but several species are still going extinct with many on the brink. Researchers have blamed human activities and rapidly growing human population for many species going extinct.

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Is today a lesser Earth Day than yesterday was?

So, April 22 was marked as the fortieth Earth Day. A day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Great! Many a rallies, protests and educational sessions by environmental groups and NGOs were held worldwide to mark the occasion. Wonderful!



But tell me, should we not inspire awareness and appreciate our planet today? Is today, or for that matter tomorrow, a lesser Earth Day than yesterday was? I think not, and I truly hope not. For India did not gain her independence by protesting and making the effort one day of the year. The Taj Mahal was not built by working on it just one day in a year.

Any monumental achievement requires a sustained, planned and dedicated effort and a paradigm shift in our approach and thinking. And bringing the Earth back to its glory days is certainly a monumental task. It requires a quantum leap from just celebrating one day as the Earth Day.

Consciousness for the planet and its environment needs to be brought into the curriculum of our life, our schools and other educational institutions. We need to have at least an Earth Hour every day of our lives if anything significant is hoped to be achieved.





Before you jump to the conclusion that I am junking the idea of the Earth day, let me put that thought process to a rest. Yes, the Earth Day, as we celebrate it currently on 22 April is significant, for it is a reminder that something needs to done. But it is sinful to give our planet just one day and forget about her the next day. That doesn't make sense to me one bit!

Look around, the seasons are tired, the wind is tired, and our rivers are tired. Even the butterflies don't flutter like they once did, for our plants are tired. It's almost as if the nature is suffering from a chronic ailment. And no amount of symbolic gesture is going to help. Is one day's care justified?

The only change will and can happen when the children demand their world back from the adults. "Kardo humare halave yeh duniya", that's what the kids need to say. "Give our world back to us, for you (adults) have not been able to care for it the way it deserved to be cared for."



For the adults I'd urge them to take a pledge to not to take a pledge just because it's 'Earth Day'. Do not be a hypocrite. Empty pledges will not change anything. We'll take a pledge today and just like a New Year resolution it will be forgotten in less than a fortnight! Pledges are rhetoric that seldom has anything to do with ground realities.

I don't say this because I am angry, I don't say this because I am hopeless and I don't say this because I am cynical. I say this because I've thought about it. And I say this with a large amount of positive energy.



What the adults, who really care, can do is to teach the children how to be better citizens of the Earth. Impart the wisdom and knowledge to the new generation such that caring for the environ is next to breathing and eating - an innate part of our being.

If we can do this then the new generation will care for the environment not because they must, but because that's the way they have been brought up. It's as simple as that and the only way to go forward.




How wonderful it would be if instead of just one day or one hour in a year our children would start their day with an Earth Hour every day? How about each educational institution inculcation and Earth Hour in their regular curriculum? Perhaps an "earth hour" could become a part of schooling like maths and science, and in-fact given more importance than any other subject.

How wonderful it would be if patriotism took a new meaning and went beyond the boundaries of one nation. Isn't it about time we got patriotic about the Earth? And shouldn't everyday be Earth Day? Think about it.

About the author: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a critically acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter. He is best known for writing and directing Rang De Basanti (2006), for which he won Best Director awards at the 2006 Filmfare Awards and National Film Awards and received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. He is also the writer and director of the critically acclaimed Aks (2001) and Delhi-6 (2009).