Zoom in showing true color, then changing to daytime thermal, then nighttime thermal, using mountain top, Landsat, ATLAS thermal, land use, and clouds-convection data

Starting with a view of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the D.C. border and the Beltway fade in. The view then shifts to Mount Airy, Maryland, indicating urban growth with red dots. Data sets for 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1996 are presented chronologically.

Can law change human behavior to be less environmentally damaging? Law will be examined through case histories including: environmental effects of national security, pesticides, air pollution, consumer products, plastics, parks and protected area management, land use, urban growth and sprawl, public/private transit, drinking water standards, food safety, and hazardous site restoration. In each case we will review the structure of law and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.

Examines the collision of politics, economics, values, and science in making and carrying out environmental policy at national, state, and local levels. Case studies of environmental policymaking explore the roles of governmental institutions, business, interest groups, the public, and the media in areas of air and water pollution, hazardous waste disposal, public lands management, and wildlife protection. "Environmental Politics and Policy" explores the workings of environmental policymaking in the United States. What are the big issues facing environmental policy? How did we end up with the policies we have today? Why does it take a crisis to move environmental policy forward? Why do political factors - economic interests, social and political values, bureaucratic styles, ideologies, elections, etc. - always seem to overwhelm sound scientific and engineering judgment in determining policy outcomes? Case studies ranging from cleaning up toxic waste pollution to endangered species protection probe the clashes between science and politics at local, state, and federal levels.

Showing the urban growth of Washington, D.C. by dissolving between data collected in 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1996.

This resource consists of an interdisciplinary unit using remote-sensing techniques and data (Landsat, aerial photos, and MultiSpec image processing software) to investigate urban sprawl and its consequences in the Washington, D.C. region. The unit design can be customized to suit other problems besides urban growth using the same techniques. The lessons can be implemented in only the science classroom or in an interdisciplinary manner.

Here we see an image of the Baltimore area taken with the Landsat satellite on March 27, 1998. For over 26 years, Landsat images have been used to help urban planners understand where growth is taking place and help geographers evaluate how different urban planning programs effect population growth and land use.

Here we see an image of the DC area taken with the Landsat satellite on March 27, 1998. For over 26 years, Landsat images have been used to help urban planners understand where growth is taking place and help geographers evaluate how different urban planning programs effect population growth and land use.

Here we see an image of the Baltimore-D.C. area taken with the Landsat satellite on March 27, 1998. For over 26 years, Landsat images have been used to help urban planners understand where growth is taking place and help geographers evaluate how different urban planning programs effect population growth and land use.

A special algorithm has been applied to the Landsat 7 image to illuminate the changes in low-density residential land use which exemplify sprawl. There is a link between impervious surfaces within a watershed, (here we see a subset of the Chesapeake Bay watershed area) and the water quality within the watershed. In general, once 10-15 % of an area is covered by impervious surfaces, increased sediments and chemical pollutants in runoff have a measurable effect on water quality. When 15-25% of a watershed is paved or impervious to drainage, increased runoff leads to reduced oxygen levels and impaired stream life. When more then 25% of surfaces are paved, many types of stream life die from the concentrated runoff and sediments. Red represents high concentrations of impervious surfaces. Blue represents moderate concentrations and green represents low concentrations of impervious surfaces.

A special algorithm has been applied to the Landsat 7 image to illuminate the changes in low-density residential land use which exemplify sprawl. There is a link between impervious surfaces within a watershed, (here we see a subset of the Chesapeake Bay watershed area) and the water quality within the watershed. In general, once 10-15 % of an area is covered by impervious surfaces, increased sediments and chemical pollutants in runoff have a measurable effect on water quality. When 15-25% of a watershed is paved or impervious to drainage, increased runoff leads to reduced oxygen levels and impaired stream life. When more then 25% of surfaces are paved, many types of stream life die from the concentrated runoff and sediments.

Zoom into Shenzhen, China. False color Landsat (4,3,2) inset with dates. Years 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996.

Zoom into Shenzen, China. True color (3,2,1) Landsat inset. Years 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996.

Marc Imhoff, project scientist from GSFC, gave this to the SVS to distribute in support of a AAAS conference talk on urban dynamics.

Starting with a view of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the D.C. border and the Beltway fade in. The view then shifts to Bowie, Maryland, indicating urban growth with red dots. Data sets for 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1996 are presented chronologically.

Starting with a view of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the D.C. border and the Beltway fade in. The view then shifts to Columbia and Laurel, Maryland, indicating urban growth with red dots. Data sets for 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1996 are presented chronologically.

Using the Landsat satellite, scientists are able to study the urban sprawl of major cities. Red dots in these images indicate areas of growth between 1986 and 1996.

Using the Landsat satellite, scientists are able to study the urban sprawl of major cities. Red dots in these images indicate areas of growth between 1986 and 1996.

Starting with a view of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the D.C. border and the Beltway fade in. The view then shifts to Reston and Sterling, Virginia, indicating urban growth with red dots. Data sets for 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1996 are presented chronologically.