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Earth System Models

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Definition

Earth system. Various parts of the Earth that interact with each other.

Models. A representation, either physically, graphically, or using a computer, of a scientific process or phenomenon developed for providing understanding of the real process or phenomenon.

Earth system model. A representation through graphics, computer software, or physically of interacting parts of the Earth developed to provide improved understanding.

Introduction

The solid Earth includes the core, mantle, lithosphere and crust, and the cryosphere consisting of ice sheets and glaciers. The core is liquid with a solid middle and generates our Earth’s magnetic field. The mantle is made of hot rock that convects, driving plate tectonics in the lithosphere and crust. Earthquakes and volcanoes occur as a result of plate tectonics. The ice masses that make up the cryosphere interact with the solid Earth, oceans, and atmosphere.

Satellite observations are used to probe characteristics of the solid Earth from...

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the NASA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Andrea Donnellan

Authors
  1. Andrea Donnellan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Donnellan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

    Eni G. Njoku

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Donnellan, A. (2014). Earth System Models. In: Njoku, E.G. (eds) Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36699-9_40

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