This spectacular “blue marble” image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=57723
Earth and environmental science classes are changing. Long perceived as low-level courses with little to engage or challenge students, they are becoming vital, rich, invigorating courses. As more humans recognize that our planet's resources are being stressed, these Earth and environmental science classes are receiving more interest and they are now being taught as true laboratory science courses.
In keeping with this transformation, the EarthLabs project provides a national model for rigorous, engaging Earth and environmental lab science courses. These units illustrate a sequence for learning science concepts through data analysis activities, satellite imagery and computer visualizations, and hands-on experiments that illustrate processes of our Earth system.