Earth observation

Earth observation is the gathering of information about Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems via remote sensing technologies, primarily from satellites and aircraft. This practice, also known as remote sensing, involves acquiring data on the planet's land, oceans, atmosphere, and cryosphere. In Hebrew, Earth observation is referred to as צפייה בכדור הארץ (Tzfiya B'Kadur Ha'Aretz). Other relevant translations include Observación de la Tierra in Spanish, Observation de la Terre in French, and Erdbebachtung in German. Key applications of Earth observation include weather forecasting, climate monitoring, environmental management, natural disaster response, and agricultural planning. The data collected can be used to track changes in land use, deforestation, urban sprawl, and other environmental phenomena, providing critical insights for policymakers, scientists, and researchers. Major Earth observation programs include NASA's Landsat and MODIS missions, the European Space Agency's Sentinel satellites, and the joint NASA and NOAA missions like GOES and JPSS.