Earth observation satellite data and its application to environmental education

Middle schools in Japan start activities to learn environmental science in their local areas by, for example, measuring pollution in their nearby rivers, but it is difficult for teachers to find materials to organize an environmental program to relate local changes with global environmental issues such as the greenhouse effect. Earth observation satellites provide a vast amount of information about what's going on the Earth's surface. Earth observation satellite data might contribute to environmental education in the aspect of "Think globally". In this view, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has begun a program that offers satellite date and its application to environmental education to schools.