GEO. Realtime Earth Science

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Introduction

These links provide data, such as scientific measurements in realtime or very rapidly, at intervals of from several seconds up to several hours. Examples include video images of volcanic eruptions, measurements of the earth´s magnetosphere and satellite photography.

A short intoduction and quick look at a few examples of the use of realtime technology in earth science.
Just go to the Dewey classified Realtime Links

Dewey classified Realtime Links

Click on any class:
guidance

500Natural sciences|520Astronomy and allied sciences|
530Physics|540Chemistry and allied sciences|
550Earth sciences|560Paleontology|
570Life sciences|580Plants|590Animals|
600Technology|620Engineering and allied sciences|660Chemical engineering|900Geography. History.

last update:29.09.1999

dead link?

denotes a site where you control apparatus in realtime

500 Natural sciences and mathematics

Discovery channel on-line Earth Alert (Discovery Communications Inc. ) - daily news reports on a wide range of natural hazards and events, including earthquakes, volcanoes, weather, avalanches, animals etc.

 

• 503 Dictionaries and encyclopedias

520 Astronomy and allied sciences

 

• 521 Celestial mechanics
  

  521.3 Orbits
  J-Pass 2,0 (NASA) - this is a programme which runs within your browser and plots a sky map showing the path of any satellite(man-made) directly overhead.  After setting up the programme (automatic) all you have to do is put in values for latitude and longitude, the time of day and then choose a satellite.  It will also show the positions of the International Space Station, MIR and the (US) shuttle when applicable.  Very useful for a realistic overview of all the satellites in orbit, as well as to know what you are actually seeing when you look up at night.

• 522 Techniques, equipment, materials
  Hubble servicing 11-21 feb 1997 - live TV streaming (Internet) of the Hubble service mission (from Exploratorium SF,Ca and STSciI)
  List of remote controlled telescopes. (Mark Cox, UK)- if you are interested in this kind of thing, then this is a list of around 20 controllable telescopes. Not all are available to you, but this is a fast growing area of interest.

   

  • 522.6 Special methods of observation

    Today´s space weather- from the Space Environment Center (NOAA). Realtime data: H-alpha solar images, X-ray flux and other electromagnetic parameters measured on satellites in earth orbit. Presented in colourful graphical format

    Auroral Activity Estimates (Space Environment Center (SEC) of NOAA) - maps of auroral activity ("northern lights") based on measurements from satellites.  The satellites measure the power flux carried by the protons and electrons that produce aurora in the atmosphere.

• 523 Specific celestial bodies & phenomena
  Bradford University Robotic Telescope- images taken to order of planetary and astronomical objects for both professionals and amateurs.
  ISTP Sun Earth Connection (NASA) - real time measurements of the solar wind and its effects on the Earth, such as the aurora. Images of the aurora are available at 7 minute intervals taken from POLAR satellite. (visible light or infra red), as well as many other measurements e.g. proton density of the wind.
  Segulmælingastöðin í Leirvogi (geomagnetic measurements) (RHÍ) - includes realtime measurements of the earth´s magnetic field as recorded at Leirvogur, Iceland, by the University of Iceland, Upper Atmosphere Dept. (relayed via server in Japan)
  

 

• 523.3 The Moon

  The Moon- realtime view of the Moon from earth + astronomical data.

   

• 523.4 Planets
  Galileo - countdown (JPL)- simulated, but exact view of what you would see from the Galileo space probe, in realtime

• 523.43Mars
  Mars daily weather report (almost realtime!) NOT OPERATIONAL until spring 1998.
  Mars Global Surveyor (JPL/NASA) - recent telemetry. Information on the spacecraft´s systems at one-minute updates, (when it is being tracked.). Look especially at the science payload deck.
  Mars Pathfinder - Live Video and Audio (NASA Select TV/Vosaic Inc.) - streamed TV & audio from a number of mirrors. Operational July 1997 - ?? No plugin necessary but 28,800 bps modem is and your system provider may need to contact support.
  Mars today (Howard Houben) - a poster produced daily by the Center for Mars Exploration at NASA's Ames Research Center. The updated poster depicts current conditions on Mars and its relationship to Earth in six panels.
  

• 523.6 Comets
  NASA's Near-Live Comet Watching System (NASA) -Images of Comet Hale-Bopp from amateur and professional astronomers, posted on the 'net in near-real time.

 

• 524
  
• 525 Earth (Astronomical geography)
  
• 526 Mathematical geography
  
• 527 Celestial navigation

• 528 Ephemerides
  
• 529 Chronology

530 Physics

540 Chemistry and allied sciences

550 Earth sciences

 

• 551 Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  
  • 551.1 Gross structure and properties of the earth

• 551.2 Volcanoes, earthquakes, thermal waters and gases

 

• 551.21 Volcanoes
  Earth's Active Volcanoes (MTU) - interactive map of world´s active volcanoes, a few of which are usually erupting or going to at any time.
  Etna (Italy) - (Istituto Internazionale di Vulcanologia ) -video camera on this currently active volcano.
  Global Volcanism Program: Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity (Smithsonian Institute) gives up to date reports (unconfirmed) of very recent and on-going eruptions - listing is automatically updated every 90 minutes; notices older than eight weeks are automatically removed.
  Mount Fuji (Japan) - active central volcano, Japan. It might erupt!
  Mount Fuji (2)- alternate high tech. site. Control of camera possible - zoom, pan etc.
  Popocatepetl, Mexico (CENAPRED)- realtime netcam view.
  Popocatepetl (Mexico) - daily reports on the volcano
  Ruapehu (NZ) (Cyber Corp Limited - cam recorder image updated when there is activity at this rather unpredictable volcano.
  Sakurajima Volcano, Japan (Jun Ushirogata, VRC) - realtime view of a classic active strato volcano. The text is in Japanese.
  Science Alert Bulletins for Ruapehu and White Island (Inst. Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited) - predictions from Wairakei Research Centre of IGNS.
  Stromboli (Italy) - (Istituto Internazionale di Vulcanologia ) -video camera on this well known volcano.
  Volcano Research Center (VRC-ERI, Univ. Tokyo) - ongoing and recent eruptions in Japan.

• 551.22 Earthquakes
  Helicorder- video image of seismograph at UNRSL, Nevada.
  Mount St. Helens Seismicity Information (University of Washington Geophysics Program) - list and map of seiamic events in the Mt. St. Helens area practically in real time. Worth looking at as an example of volcanic - related seismic activity and you may eventually see the seismic patterns leading up to an eruption! (note to Icelandic students: good comparison here to Krafla events)

  Seismic Monitor (IRIS) - a VERY high-tech colour world map, updated every 30 minutes, showing earthquake distribution, age etc in various colours. Earthquakes that have occurred within the last 24 hours are shown with red circles. The circles fade through orange to yellow within 15 days. After 15 days, the circles are replaced by light purple dots that remain on the map for five years. The map is also interactive, giving various information when epicenters are selected. Zoom facility.
  Seismo cam- video image of seismograph recorder at NBC-4 Los Angeles, Ca.
  Tsunami - WEST COAST & ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER - near realtime warnings and information on possible tsunami, with related earthquake information. Much additional material on the subject.
  USGS-National Earthquake Information Center- near realtime global earthquake information.
  Veðurstofa Íslands Jarðeðlissvið (Meteorological Office - Geophysics Dept.)
  - gives maps of selected regions in Iceland showing epicentres for the last 48 hours.   Select from the following:Ísland, Hengill, Reykjanesskagi, Suðurland. Mýrdalsjökull.

• 551.3 Surface and exogenous processes and their agents
  
• 551.4 Geomorphology and hydrosphere
  "Global montage" - Integrated Earth Information Server (IEIS) - a colour map of the world created every 6 hours, showing distribution and temperature of the earth´s ice, sea, land and cloud.
• 551.5 Meteorology
  Tromso weather- realtime weather info. from Tromso University, Norway.
  Earth Watch- realtime 3-D images of present weather over USA constructed from satellite and radar images.
  Veður og færð á vegum ( Information on road conditions and weather) (Vegagerð Íslands - the Icelandic Roads Authority) - gives almost realtime data on temp. humidity etc., from various places in the country, including highland areas.

• 552 Petrology
  
• 553 Economic geology
  
• 554 Earth sciences of Europe
  
• 555 Earth sciences of Asia
  
• 556 Earth sciences of Africa
  
• 557 Earth sciences of North America
  
• 558 Earth sciences of South America

• 559 Earth sciences of other areas
  Mawson Station- view of Mawson Research Station, Antarctica. Nothing much happens, but it gives a good idea of the environment! Updated every hour.

560 Paleontology and paleozoology

570 Life sciences and Biology

580 Plants

590 Animals

600 Technology (Applied sciences)

620 Engineering and allied operations

 

• 629.4 Astronautics
  
  • 629.44 Auxiliary spacecraft
    
    • 629.441 Space shuttles
      NASA Shuttle Web- two live images are available. Crewmembers use WORLDMAP, which runs on a laptop computer aboard the shuttle. Flight controllers use DEMOS, the Distributed Earth Model and Orbiter System, which is provided to them through Mission Control Center computers. The images update evry few minutes.
      Space Center- Houston Chronicle Interactive space Center news and audio/video files on NASA space topics. Examples include mission descriptions, interviews with astronauts and live communications recordings from NASA missions. (these are also in Virtual reality links)

660 Chemical engineering

900 Geography, History.

These pages maintained by Dr Georg R Douglas, Hamrahlíð College, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland. .